Convey of aid agencies attempt to cross into Gaza

Convey of aid agencies attempt to cross Erez Crossing to Gaza

For immediate release
23 January 2009

A convoy of international aid agencies of Save the Children, Action Against Hunger, Mercy Corps, Oxfam International and other Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) will drive from Jerusalem to Gaza in an attempt to get humanitarian staff in through Erez Crossing. The convoy will leave Jerusalem at 8:15am on Friday 23 January (NZ time; 7:15pm, Friday 23 January).

International NGOs continue to be denied access to Gaza. In the meantime, agencies' Gaza-based workers are working around the clock to deliver aid to tens of thousands of people with no outside support or assistance. Water, food medicine and other relief items are being distributed but aid workers are becoming increasingly stretched in their capacity to meet the enormous needs in Gaza.

Aid agencies need to get assessment teams into Gaza to better gauge water, food and other needs. Specialists such as water engineers, medical staff, food security experts and trauma mental health experts are in desperate demand.

"The threat of violence may be diminished, but the children of Gaza are no less vulnerable. Indeed the health and well-being of an even greater number of children are at risk," said Annie Foster, Team Leader for Save the Children's emergency response in Gaza. "We need to move quickly to get life-saving aid to babies, children and their families. Open access into Gaza will allow us to ramp up our relief operations."

Save the Children renews its call for a permanent and negotiated ceasefire, paving the way for a durable peace that will benefit all children and families both within Gaza and Israel.

Notes to the editor:

• Save the Children, which has worked in Gaza since 1953, has reached nearly 40,000 Gazans, half of them children, with food parcels, hygiene kits, baby kits, plastic carpets (for under mattresses), and bottled water since the conflict started on Dec. 27.

ENDS

© Scoop Media