GENEVA, Dec 13 (KUNA) — The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) on Thursday, ahead of the conference of major donors due to take place early next week in Paris, appealed for immediate political steps to improve the humanitarian situation in Gaza and the West Bank. The ICRC called on Israel to honor its obligations under international humanitarian law, to ease restrictions on movement in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank and to lift the retaliatory measures paralyzing life in Gaza. The ICRC also called on the Palestinian factions to stop targeting civilian areas and endangering the lives of civilians.
The leading humanitarian organization said the Palestinian population in the occupied territories is facing a worsening humanitarian crisis as a result of the drastic deterioration of the situation there.
The ICRC expressed particular concern about the impact of the severe restrictions on the movement of people and goods that exacerbate economic hardship and affect every aspect of life.
ICRC’s head of operations for the Middle East and North Africa Beatrice Megevand Roggo said the measures imposed by Israel had come at an enormous humanitarian cost, leaving the people living under occupation with just enough to survive, but not enough to live a normal and dignified life.
“The Palestinian people are paying an exceedingly high price for the continuing hostilities between Israel and Palestinian factions. Their situation is made even more difficult by intra-Palestinian rivalries. The Palestinian population has effectively become a hostage to the conflict,” she added. “The situation in the Gaza Strip is alarming. The Strip has been progressively sealed off since June: imports are restricted to the bare minimum and essential infrastructure, including medical facilities and water and sanitation systems, is in an increasingly fragile state,” said the ICRC in its statement issued today. The statement added that substantial cuts in fuel supplies further add to the hardship experienced by the population.
In the West Bank, stringent restrictions on the movement of people continue to severely hamper the economic and social life of the Palestinian population “In the current situation, humanitarian assistance alone is insufficient. It cannot and should not be a substitute for political action,” stressed Megevand Roggo.”