The child-centred international humanitarian aid charity, World Vision, warmly welcomes the ceasefire between Israel and the Hamas movement that governs the Gaza strip. But we remain deeply concerned about the humanitarian impact of the conflict.
Alex Snary, the Director of World Vision’s humanitarian and development programme in Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza, warned: “We are concerned and alarmed by the mounting humanitarian crisis in Gaza and its impact on civilians, especially children. Children should not have to live under threat of imminent invasion, nor fear of being struck by rocket fire, nor air raids.
“Children in Gaza are particularly vulnerable due to the area's high population density along with the reality that the people of Gaza have nowhere to go to escape violence, due to continued restrictions on movement and ongoing Israeli blockade. We hope that this ceasefire agreement will materially improve movement and access of people and goods in and out of Gaza.
“The enduring impact of past conflicts with Israel has left the people of Gaza with weak infrastructure, poor health services and scarcities of electricity and clean water. Individual families and emergency services have been unable to cope with the effects of the recent round of violence."
For more information and to organise interviews with Alex Snary, please contact Sarah Wilson at sarah.wilson@worldvision.org.uk or +44 7557 567 753 or Vikki Meakin at vikki.meakin@worldvision.org.uk or +44 7557 268 945