Non-governmental organizations are concerned about the possibility of a large-scale operation by the Israeli army in Rafah.
“We are prepared to have to deploy more or less aid depending on the situation, but the reality is we don’t know what to expect,” Oxfam‘s Bushra Khalidi explained.
The British organization published on April 3 together with 12 other NGOs a call for a ceasefire, recalling that 1.3 million civilians, among them at least 610,000 children, are in the Rafa “in the line of fire”.
For his part, the Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu he does not stop repeating: the army’s operation in Rafah will take place.
The Israel states that it is considering various plans for the removal of civilians, speaking mainly of “humanitarian islands”.
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallad indicated that he was considering “a series of measures in preparation for operations in Rafah, mainly regarding the removal of civilians.”
NGOs contacted by AFP said they had not been informed of the measures, and the Israeli army did not respond to its communication with humanitarian organizations.
The Defense Ministry has already assembled 30,000 tents, a third of which will be deployed in the next two weeks near Rafah, according to Israeli press sources, without it being known on which side of the border: on Gaza Strip or in Egypt.
“I have no idea what this plan means,” commented the director of the UN Office of Humanitarian Affairs (Ocha) Andrea de Domenico.
Suspension of business
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
“We certainly don’t know exactly what form this operation will take, but one thing is certain, that on the one hand the available aid will be reduced and on the other a lot of people will be displaced,” said Jean-Raphael Poitou, responsible for the Middle East East of the NGO Action Against Hunger.
In Rafah, home to just 250,000 people before the war, Palestinians will have little choice: to tear down the walls and barbed wire that separate the city from Egypt, to try to go to the northern part of the Gaza Strip – something that the present does not allow the Israeli army – or to go to the Mediterranean.
“Rafa is tiny, it’s like a village and therefore an operation in such a small and densely populated place can only lead to mass slaughter,” Khalidi warned.
Oxfam is mainly concerned that it will be forced to suspend its activities in Rafah, where half of its offices and the buildings housing its teams are located.
Khalidi explained that it is difficult to assess where the NGO’s services could be moved when 60% of buildings across the Gaza Strip have been destroyed or damaged and the enclave is still under bombardment or overcrowded. with unexploded bombs.
Disaster scenario
Other organizations fear for the aid distribution network, an issue over which they have clashed with Israeli authorities since the beginning of the war.
An operation in Gaza “would cut our lifeline: the Rafah crossing,” explained Ahmed Bayram, the Norwegian Refugee Council’s (NRC) representative in the Middle East.
The Rafah crossing is the main point through which aid enters Gaza and serves the entire enclave, where food and medicine supplies have been depleted for months and where nothing is now being produced.
“Our teams are already struggling to keep up with the growing needs on the ground,” Bairam commented.
And he lists the difficulties: shortages of everything, including electricity and fuel, an explosion in the number of wounded, a broken health system that relies only on the field hospitals in Rafah.
“The current conditions do not allow us to conduct humanitarian operations on the required scale, so think what ground fighting would do in Rafah, it would be a leap into the void,” said a UN worker in Jerusalem.
Asked by AFP during a press conference from UN headquarters in New York, Domenico added that the opening of the crossing point in Erez should be accompanied by ensuring the security of a warehouse nearby.
According to him, the efforts of humanitarian workers should be “enormous”.
However, with information from protothema, there is no question of the UN taking the initiative and setting up displaced persons camps: “we will not speed up the movement or encourage it”, explained Domenico.
“We must be ready to offer humanitarian aid where the people are, but the UN does not participate in forced displacements,” the UN worker from Jerusalem emphasized. “Besides, in reality there is no space to create” the camp, he concluded.
Read also:
Patras: The arrest of an anti-authoritarian for terrorism, the deleted files and his “role”.
Muddy rains, Foen-type winds and heat, when does the weather “open”, the forecast for Patras
Testimony for the murder of Lyggeridis: “We achieved our goal, we killed a policeman”, to the prosecutor the arrested PHOTOS
The large fire near the Souda naval station is under control, the Fire Department is on alert for rekindling
Hatzidakis: 50% reduction in bank charges at POS
#Israel #Plans #operation #Rafah #concern #million #civilians
What are the main concerns of NGOs regarding the Israeli army’s potential large-scale operation in Rafah?
Non-Governmental Organizations Sound Alarm over Potential Large-Scale Operation by Israeli Army in Rafah
The possibility of a large-scale operation by the Israeli army in Rafah has raised concerns among non-governmental organizations (NGOs), who fear for the safety of civilians and the potential disruption of humanitarian aid in the region.
According to Oxfam’s Bushra Khalidi, “We are prepared to have to deploy more or less aid depending on the situation, but the reality is we don’t know what to expect.” The British organization, along with 12 other NGOs, has published a call for a ceasefire, highlighting the plight of 1.3 million civilians, including at least 610,000 children, who are in the line of fire in Rafah [[2]].
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reiterated that the army’s operation in Rafah will take place, despite protests from NGOs and international organizations. The Israeli government has proposed various plans for the removal of civilians, citing “humanitarian islands” as a potential solution. However, NGOs have not been informed of the measures, and the Israeli army has not responded to communication with humanitarian organizations [[1]].
The Defense Ministry has already assembled 30,000 tents, with a third to be deployed in the next two weeks near Rafah, although it is unclear on which side of the border they will be set up [[3]]. The UN Office of Humanitarian Affairs (Ocha) has expressed concerns over the lack of clarity on the plan, with Director Andrea de Domenico stating, “I have no idea what this plan means” [[1]].
NGOs are worried about the impact of a large-scale operation on their ability to provide aid to those in need. Jean-Raphael Poitou, responsible for the Middle East East of the NGO Action Against Hunger, warned that the operation would lead to a reduction in available aid and a large-scale displacement of people [[1]].
The situation is particularly dire in Rafah, where Palestinians have limited options for escape, and the city’s infrastructure is already severely damaged. Khalidi warned that an operation in Rafah would lead to “mass slaughter” due to the city’s small size and dense population [[1]].
The Norwegian Refugee Council’s (NRC) representative in the Middle East, Ahmed Bayram, expressed concerns over the potential disruption to the aid distribution network, which relies heavily on the Rafah crossing. If the crossing is affected, it could cut off the lifeline of aid to the entire Gaza Strip [[1]].
The UN has also sounded the alarm, with Domenico emphasizing the need for enormous efforts from humanitarian workers to respond to the crisis. However, the UN has clarified that it will not take the initiative to set up displaced persons camps, as it does not participate in forced displacements [[1]].
As the situation in Rafah remains tense, NGOs and international organizations are urging for caution and restraint from all parties involved. The potential consequences of a large-scale operation in Rafah are dire, and it is essential that the safety and well-being of civilians are prioritized.
References:
Keywords: Rafah, Israeli army, NGOs, humanitarian aid, Gaza Strip, Benjamin Netanyahu, Andrea de Domenico, Oxfam, Norwegian Refugee Council, UN Office of Humanitarian Affairs.
Non-Governmental Organizations Concerned about Potential Israeli Army Operation in Rafah
The possibility of a large-scale operation by the Israeli army in Rafah has sparked concerns among non-governmental organizations (NGOs) working in the region. The NGOs, including Oxfam, Action Against Hunger, and the Norwegian Refugee Council, among others, have expressed their worries about the humanitarian implications of such an operation.
Suspension of Business
Bushra Khalidi, from Oxfam, highlighted the uncertainty surrounding the operation, stating, “We are prepared to have to deploy more or less aid depending on the situation, but the reality is we don’t know what to expect” [[2]]. The organization has published a call for a ceasefire, together with 12 other NGOs, recalling that 1.3 million civilians, including at least 610,000 children, are in the line of fire.
Disaster Scenario
The Israeli government has announced plans for the removal of civilians, referring to “humanitarian islands” [[1]]. However, NGOs contacted by AFP said they had not been informed of the measures, and the Israeli army did not respond to their communication. The Defense Ministry has assembled 30,000 tents, with a third to be deployed near Rafah in the next two weeks, but it is unclear on which side of the border they will be set up.
Concerns of NGOs
Jean-Raphael Poitou, from Action Against Hunger, expressed concerns about the potential operation, stating, “We certainly don’t know exactly what form this operation will take, but one thing is certain, that on the one hand the available aid will be reduced and on the other a lot of people will be displaced” [[2]].
Oxfam is concerned about the potential suspension of its activities in Rafah, where half of its offices and the buildings housing its teams are located. Ahmed Bayram, from the Norwegian Refugee Council, highlighted the importance of the Rafah crossing, which is the main point through which aid enters Gaza and serves the entire enclave.
NGO Presence in Rafah
Rafah is home to numerous NGOs, including ActionAid, Action Against Hunger, American Friends Service Committee (AFSC), Amnesty International, and A.M. Qattan Foundation, among others [[1]]. These organizations have been working to provide humanitarian aid to the people of Rafah, who have been affected by the ongoing conflict.
Call for Action
Danish NGOs have joined forces in a joint appeal, urging for urgent political action to address the situation in Rafah [[3]]. The NGOs are calling for a ceasefire and for the Israeli government to halt its plans for a large-scale operation in the region.
the potential operation by the Israeli army in Rafah has sparked concerns among NGOs working in the region. The organizations are worried about the humanitarian implications of such an operation and are calling for urgent political action to address the situation.
