Video: Delivering safe water in Gaza
Despite the ceasefire, there remain enormous humanitarian needs in Gaza. The bombing of the past seven weeks has caused massive damage to water supplies. Hundreds of thousands of people are still without running water, as wells and pipelines have been destroyed. The bombing of Gaza’s only power plant means most areas now get just a few hours of electricity a day, making it hard to keep water pumps operating.
Since the start of the crisis Oxfam and local partner the Youth Empowerment Center (YEC) have delivered safe drinking water to more than 250,000 people who have taken refuge in overcrowded schools and other shelters across Gaza.
This video, made by the EWASH coalition, depicts the work of a water truck driver, Ziyaad Mohamed Hamed, in Gaza. He has been driving trucks filled with clean drinking water for thousands of families who have fled their homes, in extremely difficult and dangerous conditions.
The Emergency Water, Sanitation and Hygiene group (EWASH) is a coalition of 27 local and international organizations – including Oxfam – working in the water and sanitation sector in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
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The latest analysis on hunger in Gaza confirms famine in Gaza City and nearby areas. Famine is projected to expand to Deir al-Balah and Khan Younis by the end of September. After 22 months of relentless conflict, over half a million people in the Gaza Strip are facing catastrophic conditions, characterized by starvation, destitution and death. Another 1.07 million people—54 percent of the population—are facing emergency levels of hunger. At Oxfam, we’ve been focused on the fight to end hunger since our founding. So, we’re going to define what exactly is famine, what causes it, share an example of a famine, and explain how people like you can help stop famine in its tracks.
This year, particularly, a day like this has never been more important with global aid cuts, and rising crises in countries like Palestine, South Sudan, Congo, Somalia, Ukraine and Syria. Oxfam Canada honours the bravery, dedication, and compassion of all humanitarian workers. We also recognize the local organizations and community leaders who are the first responders in times of crisis. Their knowledge, resilience, and commitment are the backbone of humanitarian action.
