Ch 4 - The People Without a Nation: The Palestinian Crisis
Chapter Four: Human Action
The interventions deployed during emergency responses in Gaza have been multifaceted, addressing various needs from necessities to infrastructure rebuilding. According to the United Nations Office of the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, these interventions are crucial in mitigating the impact of the crises on the civilian population.[1]
Types of Aid
Shelter: Many Gazans have been displaced due to conflict, necessitating immediate shelter solutions. Temporary housing units, often provided by international aid organizations, offer refuge to those who have lost their homes. These are often comprised of makeshift tents in refugee camps.
Water and Sanitation: Given the destruction of infrastructure, ensuring access to clean water and sanitation facilities is a priority. Agencies work to repair and maintain water systems and provide sanitation services to prevent the outbreak of diseases.[2]
Food Aid: Food insecurity is a significant concern in Gaza. Due to the destruction of more areas, agriculture and industry have not been developed. Gazans rely heavily on outside aid for their daily needs. Food aid agencies distribute food parcels and provide meal services, especially in refugee camps and to families affected by the conflict.
Medical Aid: The significant military bombardment on the Palestinian territory significantly injured tens of thousands of individuals. All medical aid needs to be imported as there is no local production. Medical supplies are brought in on trucks from the Egyptian border in coordination and under the control of the Israeli military.
Displacement Response
For displaced populations, the response includes not only providing immediate shelter but also psychosocial support, as displacement often results in trauma and social disruption.
In Gaza, the response to displacement extends beyond providing immediate shelter. Displacement, often precipitating trauma and social disruption, necessitates comprehensive support, including significant psychosocial services. These services are essential for addressing the physical and mental health crises that often accompany displacement. However, they are often ineffective. The inefficacy comes from the required approval by Israel for all aid and work done in the Gaza Strip.[3] It is in Israel’s self-interest that the territory of Gaza does not develop the infrastructure, independence, and capabilities of self-reliance. This would significantly decrease their control of the area. As a result, aid is limited to the lifesaving essential services. It is aid being provided to the world’s largest open-air prison.[4] The creation of a self-sufficient, functional society is impossible unless development is permitted.
Early recovery efforts are crucial in re-establishing essential services and stimulating economic activities within devastated communities. This recovery involves reconstructing critical infrastructure, such as schools, hospitals, and public buildings, essential for restoring normalcy and community resilience. Additionally, supporting local small businesses and agriculture is vital for economic rejuvenation, offering a pathway to self-sufficiency and sustainable development in a region marred by continuous upheaval.[5]
The duration of the displacement response in Gaza has been extensively protracted. Unfortunately, the cycle of crisis and reconstruction is a recurrent theme, with new crises often unfolding before the recovery from previous ones is complete. Noor states,
It points to the limitation of such sophisticated tools in the light of the infrastructural violence—the destruction of homes, essential public amenities (hospitals and clinics, schools, as well as electricity generation, sewage, and water treatment plants), and production facilities by Israeli bombing campaigns—that continues to dominate life in Gaza. It concludes that these humanitarian punctuations not only exacerbate the vulnerability of refugee communities but also strip them of any capacities they built over the years, making self-reliance an ever-moving target.[6]
Aid responses for displaced persons typically stretch from months to years, reflecting the enduring nature of the conflict and the repeated crises in the region. This extended duration underscores the need for sustained support and long-term planning in humanitarian interventions.[7]
Despite the substantial challenges, including restricted access due to blockades and ongoing conflicts, aid agencies persist in mitigating the humanitarian crisis. Their work is crucial in ensuring that displaced populations receive immediate relief and the support necessary for long-term recovery and rebuilding. The complexity of the situation in Gaza demands a multifaceted approach to aid that addresses immediate needs while laying the groundwork for future stability and prosperity.
[1] “Hostilities in the Gaza Strip and Israel - reported impact | Day 30,” United Nations Office of the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, Last updated November 6th, 2023. https://www.ochaopt.org/content/hostilities-gaza-strip-and-israel-reported-impact-day-30
[2] “Christian Aid in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory (IoPt),” Christian Aid, Where We Work. Accessed November 11th, 2023. https://www.christianaid.org.uk/our-work/where-we-work/israel-and-occupied-palestinian-territory-iopt
[3] Farhat, Theresa, et al. "Responding to the Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza: Damned if You do… Damned if You don’t!." Annals of Global Health 89, no. 1 (2023): 53. https://doi.org/10.5334/aogh.3975
[4] Ibid, 53.
[5] Noor Tayeh, “Refugee Camps in Gaza: Between Upgrading and Urbicide,” Journal of Palestine Studies 51, no. 3, (2022): 3, DOI: 10.1080/0377919X.2022.2091386
[6] Ibid, 4.
[7] Ibid, 4.