Israel-Gaza conflict: Only ceasefire can end suffering for civilians after catastrophic year

A complete and lasting ceasefire is the only way to end the cycle of death, destruction, and loss for millions of civilians in the region, warns the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) as the organization approaches the first anniversary of the escalation of hostilities in Israel and Gaza.

“This has been a devastating year,” said Jan Egeland, NRC secretary general. “For 12 months, the horrific events in the occupied Palestinian territory, Israel, and Lebanon have wrought havoc, and we are now on the cusp of an all-out regional war. Hundreds of thousands of civilians have been killed, injured, or displaced, and vast numbers of innocent children remain traumatized, hungry, and sick. One year on, we are now no closer to a ceasefire agreement than we were during the darkest days of hostilities. Governments must realize that so long as weapons continue to flow to Israel and non-state armed groups, the war machines continue to be fuelled, and the suffering of civilians will be, in no small part, the responsibility of those who bring fuel to the fire. They hold the key to bringing this tragedy to an end, and they must do everything in their power to achieve that.”

Despite immense challenges, NRC continues to offer support for families throughout the occupied Palestinian territory and Lebanon. In Gaza, the teams have managed to remain operational despite multiple displacements and disruptions. The volume of aid that has entered Gaza over the last year has never come close to meeting ever-growing needs. On average, 50 trucks per day have crossed into Gaza in September, the lowest yet.

“The humanitarian crisis in Gaza has reached an unbearable level. The scale of damage and loss is so immense that it will take many years to reverse, but NRC will stay and continue to support communities in all ways possible. My colleagues put their lives on the line to provide the aid that we can receive in Gaza. Hundreds of thousands of people are still without proper access to necessities, like shelter, food, and clean water. The needs remain so vast against aid supplies because of Israeli restrictions, the erosion of the social fabric, and a breakdown of law and order. All crossings into Gaza must be opened to allow for a scaling up of aid. There is no excuse for allowing this suffering to continue,” said Egeland.