|
MARCH
12, 2008
AIDA STATEMENT
International NGOs Call for
Immediate, Formal Cease Fire in
Gaza
The undersigned members of the Association
of International Development Agencies (AIDA) are alarmed at the escalation
of violence and destruction involving the civilian population in the Gaza
Strip and we welcome efforts being made by the members of Quartet (the
United States, the European Union, Russia and United Nations) and the Arab
League to broker an immediate, formal cease fire from all parties.
This call is even more urgently needed after the recent attack on students
at the Jewish religious school in
Jerusalem
that claimed the lives of 8 students including 3 children.
Lasting from 27 February to 2 March, the
Israeli military operation in Gaza
resulted in the deaths of over 107 Palestinians, at least half of whom were
civilians - including more than 27 children. Many more Palestinian
civilians have been critically wounded, and the death toll is steadily
rising. Palestinian armed groups have fired rockets into Israel, leading to the death of one
civilian and the injury of 25.
We condemn all attacks that target civilians, including
both attacks by Palestinian militants and Israeli military actions. We
remind all parties that under international humanitarian law they are
responsible and accountable for protecting civilian populations and
infrastructure.
The latest military operation has
exacerbated the impact of the Israeli blockade of
Gaza, pushing an already vulnerable population to the
brink. Key infrastructures, including public health facilities and the
water and sanitation network, are now at a breaking point.
The latest violence and destruction coupled
with the on-going impoverishment and isolation of
Gaza’s people, 56 percent of whom are children, and
increased restrictions placed on humanitarian actors, does nothing to
establish conditions necessary for peace. It also places our work and
the work of our partners in jeopardy.
The undersigned members of AIDA therefore
urge the Quartet and the Arab League to:
-
Abide
by their responsibility under international humanitarian law to protect
civilians and to broker an immediate, formal cease fire.
-
Assure
humanitarian movement and access in and out of
Gaza.
-
Push
Israel to widen its definition
of what constitutes essential humanitarian assistance to include: items
essential for the maintenance and rehabilitation of public service
infrastructure; access for treatment abroad for patients requiring
urgent medical care and allowing parents to accompany children under the
age of 18; and the immediate resumption of normal fuel imports and
electricity.
-
Urge
all parties to work toward the reopening of the Gaza crossings in
accordance with the Agreement on Movement and Access (AMA) brokered by
the US and EU in November 2005.
Campaign for the Children of Palestine (CCP)
CISS – Cooperazione Internazionale Sud Sud
Gruppo di Volontariato Civile (GVC)
Italian Consortium of Solidarity (ICS)
Japan International
Volunteer
Center
(JVC)
Lutheran World Federation
Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP-UK)
medico international
Mennonite Central Committee
Norwegian Church
Aid
Norwegian Refugee Council
Oxfam International
Oxfam Great
Britain
Oxfam Novib
Oxfam Quebec
Palestine
Solidarity Association of
Sweden
Save the Children-UK
Solidarite Socialiste Belgium
Swedish Organization for Individual Relief (SOIR)
Swedish Cooperative
Center
Terre des hommes Italia
War Child Holland
World Vision Jerusalem
|