The burning news continues to remind us of the urgency of acting in the face of the humanitarian catastrophe unfolding in Gaza. While access to the Palestinian enclave is cut off, the population finds itself deprived of water, food and electricity, thus plunging into a desperate situation.
Poignant testimonies and alerts from NGOs are multiplying, highlighting the plight of the inhabitants of Gaza. Hungry families queue outside understocked supermarkets, while drinking water becomes increasingly scarce. The humanitarian consequences of this complete siege are disastrous and worsening exponentially.
The situation in Gaza, already precarious for years, is becoming unbearable. Under the land blockade imposed since 2007, the population relied mainly on the delivery of goods through crossing points controlled by Israel. But since the start of the fighting between Israel and Hamas, these accesses are now strictly closed, leaving residents completely isolated.
In addition to the shortage of food and water, another threat looms: access to drinking water. With only 10% of the water consumed coming from Israel, the Gaza Strip relies primarily on a coastal aquifer. However, this aquifer is polluted, and Gazans already face problems of contamination and diseases linked to consumption of poor quality water. Without electricity to operate the desalination plants, the situation risks quickly getting worse.
Faced with this imminent humanitarian catastrophe, it is urgent that the international community mobilize to help the population of Gaza. The establishment of a humanitarian corridor, allowing the delivery of water, food and medicine, is vital to prevent an even greater tragedy.
It is essential that the voices of these millions of people cut off from the world are heard and that concrete measures are taken to guarantee them access to the essential needs for survival. Time is running out and it is time to take action to avoid an unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe.
In this period of global crisis, it is essential to remember that behind the numbers and statistics are human lives which depend on our solidarity and our commitment to making a difference. Let’s not let this humanitarian catastrophe worsen further, let’s act now to support the people of Gaza.