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Press Releases & Updates

23 JUL 2014

Crisis in Gaza Update

Gaza has been under Israeli blockade for the past seven years, which has devastated the economy, left most people unable to leave, and restricted access to essential services. The current escalation of conflict in Gaza and Israel is having particularly devastating consequences for civilians in Gaza, affecting every aspect of life.

Oxfam condemns all attacks on civilians by all sides, and is calling for an immediate ceasefire. Oxfam and our partners in Gaza are trying to respond to the mounting human cost of the escalating violence.

Latest Situation

• More than 600 Palestinians in Gaza have been killed. More than 3,500 have been injured
• 74% of the dead are civilians, including 147 children. A child is currently being killed every hour
• 29 Israelis have been killed. 2 are adult civilians (7%)
• More than 120,000 people have fled their homes but the borders are shut and people have nowhere safe to go. Most are sheltering in more than 80 schools across Gaza
• An estimated 1.2 million people – two thirds of Gaza population - have no or very limited access to water and sanitation services due to damage to the electricity system or lack of fuel to run generators.
• Half of Gaza's bakeries are not operating and have stocks to last one more week. More than 135,000 people need food assistance
• At least 18 medical facilities have been hit by airstrikes and shelling, including hospitals, ambulances and health clinics
• Critical shortage of medical supplies in hospitals due to the increasing number of injuries following the ground incursion.
• 1,890 families have had their homes completely destroyed or severely damaged. Thousands more have been damaged
• An estimated 118 fishing boats have been destroyed or damaged, affecting livelihoods of 3,600 fishermen. Approximately 774 livestock farms, greenhouses or farms also destroyed or damaged

Oxfam’s Planned Response

Thanks to our Gaza-based colleagues, who have been working in extremely difficult conditions in
Gaza, Oxfam is reaching more than 27,662 beneficiaries with water, food, and basic kits for
displaced families.

• Provide food vouchers, including drinking bottle water for 3,000 households for 2 months
• Provide fuel for hospital generators, medications and disposables to hospitals and clinics
• Continue water tankering to internally displaced people in 18 schools or public facilities and open spaces in Gaza City, northern Gaza and Rafah; will extend the water tankering for agricultural needs if security situation improves
• Provide psychosocial support to vulnerable communities, especially women and children, affected by the military operation
• Support farmers, breeders and fishermen’s livelihoods by rehabilitation of boats, agricultural lands and greenhouses
• Document and report the violations during military operation in Gaza for advocating peace talks, stop of incursion, make complaints in courts and international level advocacy