Oxfam launches appeal to aid families sheltering from the violence

As the Gaza crisis worsens – with 170,000 people fleeing with nowhere safe to go – Oxfam Hong Kong launches an appeal for HK$2,000,000 so that families sheltering from the violence can receive urgently needed humanitarian aid.

The past few days have been the deadliest yet in Gaza, with civilians including women and children making up the majority of casualties, and on average a child being killed every hour. More than 697 Palestinians in Gaza have been killed and over 4,000 injured. Nearly three-quarters of those killed are civilians, and 170 are children.

Thirty-two Israelis have been killed, three of them adult civilians.

People have been warned to leave as airstrikes intensify. However, with bombing and fighting taking place and the borders shut, there is nowhere safe for people to go to. Thousands of displaced families are sheltering in 80 school buildings. However, these are not safe: At least 116 have been damaged in the past two weeks.

An estimated 1.2 million people, comprising two-thirds of the Gaza population, have no or very limited access to water and sanitation services. Half of Gaza’s bakeries are not operating or have stocks that can only last one more week. More than 140,000 people require food assistance. At least 18 medical facilities have been hit by airstrikes and shelling, and there is a critical shortage of medical supplies.

"The terrible toll on civilians is shocking. Hospitals and water supplies are under massive strain and the needs are increasing by the day. People are fleeing, terrified. Normally in crises like this we would see an exodus of people escaping the violence, but in Gaza there is no safe place for them to go," said Nishant Pandey, head of Oxfam in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and Israel.

Oxfam’s response

The ongoing violence and intensive airstrikes make it dangerous to deliver aid to people. Thanks to staff in Gaza, who have been working in extremely difficult conditions, Oxfam is reaching more than 27,662 people with water, food and basic kits.

Oxfam plans to do the following:

• provide food vouchers and drinking water for 3,000 households for two months
• provide fuel for hospital generators
• provide medications and disposables to hospitals and clinics
• continue supplying clean water using water tankers to internally displaced people in 18 schools or public facilities and open spaces in Gaza City, northern Gaza and Rafah
• extend water tankering to meet farming needs if security improves
• provide psychosocial support to vulnerable communities affected by the military operations, especially women and children
• support the livelihoods of farmers, breeders and fishermen by assisting them in repairing their boats, farms and greenhouses
• document and report violations during military operations in Gaza, which could be used later in peace talks, campaigns to stop the violence, court complaints and international advocacy 

Oxfam urges the international community to do more to push for a lasting ceasefire that will end the blockade and address the root causes of the conflict.

Donation methods as follows:

Donations can be transferred to the various bank accounts of Oxfam Hong Kong:

Hong Kong

HSBC:  001-537000-010  

Bank of China:  012-874-1-049363-3

Wing Hang Bank : 035-802-862123-003

Macau

Bank of China Macau : 01-01-20-840951 (MOP)

More donation methods
Online donation link (HK donor)
https://www.oxfam.org.hk/en/oneoffdonationform_2014it017.aspx

Online donation link (Macau donor)
https://www.oxfam.org.hk/en/oneoffdonationform_2014kn005.aspx

Other donation methods
http://www.oxfam.org.hk/en/paymentgazacrisis.aspx

For media enquiries, please contact:

Sarah Chu (Senior Communications Officer)
Tel: +852 3120 5280
Email: sarah.chu@oxfam.org.hk

Doctors at the Oxfam-supported Al Awda Hospital in northern Gaza treat a young boy.

Amid the rising casualties, the Oxfam-supported Al Awda Hospital continues to deliver babies. The hospital is the only one in north Gaza with a specialized obstetric unit for pregnant women.

Meleh Al Shaer grows pumpkins on his farm in the southern Gaza Strip. The farm was completely destroyed a few days ago.

Children in Rafah, southern Gaza, collect water from one of the working public taps. Numerous water systems and wells have been badly damaged in the airstrikes.

Doctors at the Oxfam-supported Al Awda Hospital in northern Gaza treat a young boy. Amid the rising casualties, the Oxfam-supported Al Awda Hospital continues to deliver babies. The hospital is the only one in north Gaza with a specialized obstetric unit for pregnant women. Meleh Al Shaer grows pumpkins on his farm in the southern Gaza Strip. The farm was completely destroyed a few days ago. Children in Rafah, southern Gaza, collect water from one of the working public taps. Numerous water systems and wells have been badly damaged in the airstrikes.