Gaza: hope emerging despite urgent needs and uncertainty about future

There is more traffic in the streets, shops are open again (though the choice of goods on the shelves is quite limited), and farmers can be seen working the fields. Children are again attending schools that had been closed for a month.

"The main priority right now is to treat wounded people that we previously could not access for treatment, and to support our colleagues in the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) in helping people in Gaza rebuild their lives," explained Noel Wardick, Head of the International Department, Irish Red Cross

The level of destruction throughout Gaza has yet to be fully assessed. ICRC staff have conducted detailed assessments of the needs in many areas of Gaza City as well as in Khan Yunis, Rafah and Khozaa in southern Gaza. According to preliminary findings, over 880 houses were fully destroyed and a further 650 partially destroyed in these areas.

"It's impressive to see how people are doing their best to cope with this difficult situation," said Iyad Nasr, an ICRC spokesman in Gaza, who took part in several assessment missions. "They aren't sitting around waiting to be helped. They have been going back to the areas where they lived and worked before the war, trying to repair what can be repaired - houses, irrigation systems for their fields and so on. People are full of energy. Though they're fearful about what the future might bring, they still have hope that things will get better".

Situation critical for thousands of people

In Jabalia, one of the worst-hit areas of Gaza, between one and two thousand families are living amid the debris of their houses, without electricity, a regular water supply or adequate sanitation facilities. "It was suggested to these people that they should move to UN shelters, but they want to stay where their homes were," explained Ellen Verluyten, deputy head of the ICRC office in Gaza. "Emergency aid, such as plastic sheeting, tarpaulins, blankets and hygiene kits, can make their lives a little less difficult, but only in the short term. Construction materials are urgently needed to build permanent or at least temporary housing".

There was another major concern, Ms Verluyten added - the very real risk posed by unexploded munitions, especially in the areas subjected to the most intense attacks. "These areas must be checked as soon as possible and immediate action taken to deal with any unexploded munitions. Until that happens, they remain a lethal danger for residents". Two ICRC specialists are expected to arrive in Gaza towards the end of January to gauge the extent of the problem.

The ICRC has also continued to assess damage to key infrastructure, such as the power grid and water-supply systems. While the main power lines in northern Gaza have been repaired, the low-voltage lines taking electricity directly to households are still not working in Jabalia, Zeytun and Sudania. This also affects water-distribution networks in those areas. The local electricity company says that the lines can be repaired within three weeks provided that the necessary parts and other supplies are made available. "The company has ordered what they need," said Marek Komarzynski, an ICRC engineer. "It's essential now that it should be delivered from Israel to Gaza as soon as possible".

ICRC action

• On 24 January, staff from the ICRC and the Palestine Red Crescent Society distributed relief items to nearly 12,000 people in various places in Gaza, including Tal Al-Hawa, Atatra, Tuffa, Zeytun, Shajayah and El Mugragah in the north, and Khan Yunis, Rafah and Khozaa in the south. Since 19 January, aid has reached over 31,000 people.
• A local company working under ICRC contract has repaired the water-treatment plant in Zeytun, which was seriously damaged during the hostilities.
• The ICRC surgical team continues to support local medical personnel at Shifa Hospital. Surveys to gauge damage and needs have also been conducted in other medical facilities, such as Al-Quds, Al-Wafa, Al-Awda and Tel El Islam hospitals in the north and the European hospital in the south. The ICRC must now decide how best to support those facilities.

Irish Red Cross action

• Earlier this month the Irish Red Cross transferred €30,000 from its own emergency reserves to the International Committee of the Red Cross to help pay for medical supplies and treatment
• The Irish Red Cross also launched an emergency appeal in the beginning of January to help provide support fro the people in Gaza. Donations to fund this work can be made on 1850 50 70 70 or by logging onto www.redcross.ie
• The Irish Red Cross deployed one of its most experienced overseas staff members, Vivienne Lusted to the region at the beginning of January. Ms. Lusted is a qualified health professional and has previously worked on mission for the Irish Red Cross in Africa and Asia. Ms. Lusted is working on loan from the Irish Red Cross with the ICRC in the region
• Many members of the Irish public have taken part in fundraising over the past month, such as students in Loreto Secondary School in Clonmel who organised a sponsored silence recently and raised €232.39, which they have generously given to the Irish Red Cross in support of the people of Gaza.

Clonmel Loreto Students donate money from a Sponsored Silence to the Irish Red Cross for Gaza Victims

Secondary school students from Loreto, Clonmel, Raised €232.39 for Gaza victims and donated their money to the Irish Red Cross.

Pictured with Darren Ryan, Irish Red Cross, they did not speak for one day in a sponsored silence. Pictured from right to left, top, Darren Ryan, Irish Red Cross, Ciara Looby, Kerri Delaney, Maeve Condon, Eve Kerton, Úna Ward, Róisín O'Neill, and Laura Condon. Bottom, Ellen Murphy, Sarah O'Donnell, Aoife Dennehy, Sinéad Lacey, and Megan Walsh.