ActionAid Ireland warns Israeli escalation in Gaza could impact on ability of NGOs to deliver essential services
ActionAid Ireland said today that a partner organisation in Gaza has been forced to evacuate and relocate within Gaza due to an escalation of Israeli activity. ActionAid said the charity WEFAQ, which has been supporting people – particularly women and their families – who have been displaced by war, has evacuated from the MAAN Community Centre in Deir Al Balah which is under siege from Israeli tanks.
ActionAid Ireland CEO, Karol Balfe, said: “Our partner organisation, WEFAQ, has dismantled their operations, including an IDP shelter for their own staff and families, in Deir Al Balah where they had a warehouse for food distribution. They are relocating to Western Khan Younis.”
She said: “This evacuation and escalation critically impacts the ability of WEFAQ to deliver essential services to those in need. The MAAN community centre is a vital resource for internally displaced persons (IDPs) and is currently under siege by tanks. This centre has been crucial in providing support and information to displaced families, and its compromised status severely hinders aid efforts.”
Ms Balfe added: “Forcible evacuations can be deemed a war crime if they are carried out without regard for the safety and well-being of the evacuated persons, or if they are part of a broader pattern of behaviour intended to cause harm to civilians or undermine their rights.”
“Under International Humanitarian Law, particularly the Fourth Geneva Convention, parties to a conflict are prohibited from forcibly transferring or evacuating civilians from occupied territories unless it is for their safety and temporary in nature. Such evacuations should not result in the displacement of civilians to areas where they are at risk or deprived of necessities.”
Ms Balfe concluded: “ActionAid demands an immediate ceasefire, an end to the blockade on Gaza, and the full protection of all humanitarian personnel. We call for unimpeded access to the Gaza Strip to fully support our colleagues in their critical work. The international community must hold the Israeli government accountable for its actions and ensure that humanitarian aid reaches those suffering without delay. The already starving, diseased, and beleaguered population faces an even greater humanitarian crisis. Immediate and decisive action is essential to address the escalating emergency and prevent further suffering.“
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