JOA pledges £200k to meet "urgent needs" of civilians trapped in Gaza

Friday 20 October 2023

Jersey Overseas Aid has pledged £200,000 to meet the "most urgent needs" of civilians trapped in Gaza as its siege continues.

Over 3,500 Palestinians have been killed and one million displaced since violence erupted between Hamas and Israel.

Israel's retaliatory strikes follow deadly attacks this month where over 1,300 Israelis were killed by Hamas militants and a further 199 individuals taken hostage.

JOA said access to water, electricity, fuel and medical supplies in Gaza were "critically low" as humanitarian access continues to be negotiated.

International Development Minister Carolyn Labey said: "It is a harrowing situation, and my thoughts are with those caught up in the violence and for the families of the innocent civilians who have died on both sides of the conflict."

Pictured: International Development Minister Carolyn Labey is also chair of the JOA Commission.

The financial support, which will go towards the UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and their occupied Palestinian territory (oPt).

Humanitarian Fund, will be used to meet the "most urgent needs of 1.26 million people in Gaza Strip and the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem", JOA said.

In a statement, JOA explained: "The OCHA Humanitarian Fund supports the implementation of a larger US$294 million inter-agency Flash Appeal that brings together humanitarian actors including UN Agencies, International NonGovernment Organizations (NGO), Palestinian Red Crescent Society and National NGOs."

Deputy Labey added: "Since the escalation of violence in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories, JOA have been in regular contact with humanitarian partners and have been kept well informed of the growing needs of the hundreds of thousands of civilians currently trapped in Gaza.

"Jersey’s allocation will contribute towards the rapid deployment of aid, particularly in lifesaving sectors that have been hit hardest including health, shelter, Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), food and protection."