News Center- In a statement on Wednesday, 15 aid organizations demand international pressure for an immediate ceasefire, arms embargo, and end to Israel’s systematic aid obstruction.

“New data has revealed the scale of aid obstruction, and the consequential drastic fall in aid entering Gaza. This is driving a humanitarian disaster, with the entire population of Gaza facing hunger and disease, and almost half a million at risk of starvation,” said the statement signed by CARE International, Save the Children, ActionAid, Christian Aid, War Child, Islamic Relief, HelpAge International, American Friends Service Committee, Oxfam, DanChurchAid, Norwegian Church Aid, Mennonite Central Committee, Danish Refugee Council, Norwegian Refugee Council and KinderUSA.

While Israeli military attacks on Gaza intensify, lifesaving food, medicine, medical supplies, fuel, and tents have been systematically blocked from entering for almost a year.

Data analysis by organizations working in Gaza has found that 83% of required food aid does not make it into Gaza, up from 34% in 2023. “This reduction means people in Gaza have gone from having an average of two meals a day to just one meal every other day. An estimated 50,000 children aged between 6-59 months urgently require treatment for malnutrition by the end of the year.”

65% of the insulin required and half of the required blood supply are not available in Gaza, the statement noted, adding that availability of hygiene items has dropped to 15% of the amount available in September 2023. “One million women are now going without the hygiene supplies they need.”

Only around 1,500 hospital beds in Gaza remain operational, compared to around 3,500 beds in 2023 which was already well below sufficient to meet the needs of a population of more than 2 million people, according to the statement.

“1.87 million people are in need of shelter with at least 60% of homes destroyed or damaged (January 2024). Yet tents for around just 25,000 people have entered Gaza since May 2024.”

Call on governments

Ahead of the UN General Assembly in New York this week, aid agencies are calling on governments to demand Israel end aid obstruction and to secure an immediate and lasting ceasefire in Gaza, implement an arms embargo and end the export of weapons and military equipment that risk being used in violations of international humanitarian law and human rights law, demand compliance with the International Court of Justice’s findings and recommendations, an end to the Israeli government’s siege of Gaza, and heed the call of the ICJ in its advisory opinion to end the occupation of Palestinian territory.

“The situation was intolerable long before last October’s escalation and is beyond catastrophic now,” said Jolien Veldwijik, CARE Country Director in the West Bank and Gaza.

“Over 11 months, we have reached shocking levels of conflict, displacement, disease and hunger. Yet, aid is still not getting in, and humanitarian workers are risking their lives to do their jobs while attacks and violations of international law intensify. Aid, which is urgently required for 2.2 million people at risk of dying in the coming weeks and months, should never be politicized. We demand an immediate and sustained ceasefire, and the free flow of humanitarian aid into and throughout Gaza.”