Gaza Emergency Update
The scenes unfolding in Gaza are nothing short of harrowing. With thousands of lives lost and over 1.7 million people forcibly displaced the human cost of this crisis is enormous.
Act for Peace continue to stand with our long-term partners, the Near East Council of Churches and Department of Service to Palestinian Refugees (DSPR), who, despite their own individual losses are working tirelessly to provide vital humanitarian assistance and protection to the civilians of Gaza.
“The needs are beyond belief, the resources are limited and hard to find, the teams on the ground are exhausted working in extremely unsafe and hard conditions but determined to serving this noble mission” – Act for Peace’s local partner, the DSPR.
DSPR’s initial and ongoing response includes providing hygiene kits and cash assistance, allowing families who have lost everything to buy urgently needed food, water, and winter clothing. They are also working with a local hospital to provide essential healthcare services and medicine, as well as provide crucial mental health support to children.
“The world can’t relax while people are dying every minute. Every minute. Every 10 minutes there is a child killed in Gaza. I want to express my gratitude to you and all our supporters. Your care, concern, and generosity are not just bringing back hope but are making a real difference in the lives of those affected by this crisis. Your solidarity reflects shared values of justice, compassion, and the fundamental right to live with dignity.” - Nader, Executive Secretary, DSPR
It is still possible to assist - Please give urgently today and help respond to this humanitarian crisis.
MEDIA RELEASE
The Australian Council for International Development (ACFID) has written to the Prime Minister of Australia and the Minister for Foreign Affairs on behalf of their members, urging Australian Government to back the International Court of Justice on the war in Gaza.
ACFID, as a Peak Body, represents their member foreign aid groups of which Act for Peace and a number of NCCA member church organisations are a part of.
“Palestinian civilians in Gaza are already facing starvation, famine and outbreaks of disease. Without the critical support of UNRWA, the appalling humanitarian situation will continue deteriorating,” ACFID CEO Mr Marc Purcell said.
An excerpt from the open letter reads:
The undersigned Australian Council for International Development (ACFID) members write to you today to urge your public support for the decision made last week by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to implement urgent provisional measures to limit harm to Palestinian civilians. We also urge the Australian Government to actively ensure its adherence to international law and uphold its own obligations under the Genocide Convention and the Arms Trade Treaty.
The letter:
- calls for the unconditional release of hostages
- urges the government to support new funding worth $100 million to Gaza and the West Bank, including for Australian non-government organisations on the ground
- calls for a doubling of the Humanitarian Emergency Fund to $300m to accurately reflect the growing number and scale of disasters in Australia’s region and beyond.
Among the signatories are: Act for Peace, ADRA Australia, Anglican Overseas Aid, Baptist World Aid, Caritas Australia, and GMP.
READ
ACFID Open Letter to PM, Minister Wong | Feb 2, 2024
Foreign aid groups urge Australia to back International Court of Justice on Gaza war | Feb 2, 2024 | acfid.asn.au
