Christian Aid rejects Israel's 'half-baked' plan to force Gaza people on to 'humanitarian islands'

Over a million people live in makeshift shelters on the beach or bombed out buildings. Image NK.

Source: Christian Aid, OCHA

As the civilian death toll in Gaza, from military onslaught, starvation and disease, continues to rise, Israel has announced plans to force the population into 'humanitarian islands'. Over a million people who have already been forced to moved several times, are currently surviving in makeshift shelters, with little water, toilet facilities of food in Rafah, in the southern corner of Gaza.

William Bell, Christian Aid's Head of Middle East Policy and Advocacy, said: "The half-baked plan to force more than a million displaced civilians out of Rafah into so-called 'humanitarian islands' further north beggars belief.

"It's like forcing the entire population of Birmingham out of the city. And the suggestion that they will be safe simply cannot be given credence.

"How long will it take to build and equip these islands? And how much longer to get people to them?

"With Gaza on the brink of famine, children dying of malnutrition and desperate families reportedly eating grass to survive, men, women and children need life-saving aid now.

"Instead of going along with this preposterous idea the international community - the UK Government included - needs to call for an immediate and permanent ceasefire and stop arming Israel... It is our responsibility to ensure our Government does all it can to prevent it."

According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) - as of 14 March there had been 31,341 deaths and 73,134 injured people in Gaza. 2.2 million are facing acute shortage of food. 0.5 are starving. 31 people had died of hunger. 300,000 have respiratory infections. 200,000 chronic diarrhoea.