Gaza "a living hell" as disabled and farmers forced to evacuate

Source: Christian Aid

Christian Aid's Programme Manager for Israel and Occupied Palestinian Territory, Katie Roxburgh, received an update from the charity's partners in the region earlier today. They said that in the latest Israeli evacuation orders 150 farmers have been forced to leave Deir El Balah and 1000 dunams of agricultural land is now out of use.

Katie Roxburgh added: "The area in Deir El Balah was key for agriculture and one of the only sources of fresh fruit and vegetable production in the last few months, with many people being fed from the produce grown there. This comes on top of the thousands of dunams of agricultural land that has already been destroyed.

"The evacuation orders have also devastatingly impacted our partner's disability-friendly camp which had been adapted to house people living with disabilities and their 68 families. Many of the residents were wheelchair users and were given just a few hours to leave the site, where they had been sheltering for over a year. Where they are now has limited food and currently zero water source or toilets.

"This situation is beyond desperate; it is like a living hell. In the face of unimaginable horror our partners in Gaza heroically continue to help people as best they can, but we are at a critical point where staff are exhausted, and resources are stretched beyond imagination."

Christian Aid's partners also highlighted the escalating situation in the West Bank where they also work, specifically the targeting of water centres by settlers in what appears to be a co-ordinated effort. Settlers have destroyed several water sources around Ramallah and in other areas in the last two days which will further cut off water supplies, they said.

Christian Aid is one of more than 100 aid organisations which today warned of "mass starvation" in Gaza.