Statement by Relief International CEO, Craig Redmond
Humanitarian principles exist for a reason.
Humanity, impartiality, independence and neutrality are what guarantees that life-saving aid is distributed based on who needs it the most.
Relief International joins the United Nations and other NGOs operating in the occupied Palestinian territory and fully rejects any participation in any aid distribution mechanism that would breach humanitarian principles.
Since we launched our operations in Gaza over a year ago, with the support of our donors, European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO) and the READ Foundation, we have worked around the clock and despite tremendous challenges to provide vital assistance.
Close to 20,000 mothers, fathers, children, pregnant women, injured civilians, and other war-affected people have received critical aid in the form of quality health care, education, hygiene items, clothes, as well as mental health and psychosocial support. During the short ceasefire period earlier this year, humanitarians were able to scale up and proved that when we are not completely prevented from doing our jobs, we deliver. Above and beyond, despite enormous obstacles.
As I write, and as we watch malnutrition cases rise exponentially, we have had to slow down our programming on the ground dramatically.
This is due to:
– The complete siege, now in its third month, which means our partners are depleting their supplies rapidly and have run out of vital items already, while several shipments are waiting outside the Gaza Strip for Israeli authorities to finally let aid in.
– And to the extremely dangerous operating environment, with relentless bombings that continue to kill dozens daily and to limit our ability to move, forcing us to close our education facility as we could not guarantee the safety of the students and staff.
But against all odds, our teams and our partner Al Awda Health and Community Association are somehow continuing to serve the people of Gaza through two hospitals and other services.