Hassan Al-Warfalli (Abu Dhabi) - The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) on Sunday welcomed the entry of the first batch of aid through the Rafah Crossing to Palestinian residents in the Gaza Strip, describing the move as a “positive step”, according to Iman Al Tarabulsi, the regional spokesperson for the ICRC in the Middle East.
In an exclusive interview with Aletihad, Al Tarabulsi called on all parties to consider facilitating the entry of aid in a sustainable and regular manner, considering the basic needs of the residents of the Gaza Strip. Al Tarabulsi noted that the reports received by the ICRC indicate the deterioration of the humanitarian situation in the enclave. With a healthcare system on the verge of collapse, the situation has become virtually catastrophic for residents, especially those displaced from their homes due to the conflict, the spokesperson said.
The ICRC has received images and reports from its colleagues inside Gaza that show that many Palestinian families lack access to potable water or food. Tens of thousands of Palestinian families are in a devastating situation, as they seek refuge in locations that are not adequately equipped with necessities, she added.
Al Tarabulsi renewed the ICRC’s call for the parties involved in the conflict to consider the massive needs of Gaza Strip residents. The first batch of buses carrying aid that entered Gaza is not enough, Al Tarabulsi added.
The entry of aid and the opening of the Rafah Crossing for more aid does not solve the problem, as humanitarian actors need a cessation of hostilities, even temporarily, to be able to deliver and distribute aid, carry out their fieldwork fully, and provide security guarantees, she noted, adding that the continuation of violence prevents Red Cross teams from moving on the ground.
The ICRC has prepared 60 tonnes of relief materials and has additional health teams, including surgeons, to support the health authorities and the Palestinian Red Crescent in their relief work. “Unfortunately, the additional teams have not entered yet, and we hope that there will be significant steps in the near future because it is a matter of life and death for hundreds of thousands,” Al Tarabulsi said.
Bringing more humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip is essential, and allowing more teams to enter will create a lot of progress in enabling the health sector to respond to current needs, she added, explaining that neither the entry of aid nor the opening of the crossing is enough. Al Tarabulsi reiterated the call for a cessation of hostilities.
Israel stipulates that aid must not reach the Hamas movement, meaning that all buses entering the Gaza Strip must be inspected to prevent any weapons or rocket manufacturing materials from reaching the armed factions in Gaza.The Palestinian Authority appealed for the urgent entry of relief and humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip under the supervision of United Nations agencies, which continue to face significant challenges regarding mobility to distribute aid within the Gaza Strip.