EUROPEAN CONFERENCE FOR DISPLACED GAZANS TO BE HELD NEXT SATURDAY

Palestinian taking sleep in school shelters during the 51-day Israeli offensive. (Photo: ALRAY)

Jakarta, 21 Dhulhijja 1435/15 October 2014 (MINA) – A number of European humanitarian relief institutions declared intention to hold next Saturday the first European conference of its kind that focuses on providing shelter and basic human needs to Gazans who were forcibly displaced due to the recent Israeli aggression on Gaza.

The event is going to be held on Saturday, October 18 under the title of “Al-Wafaa Conference: dressing the wounds and re-housing the displaced”. The conference is organized by Al-Wafaa Campaign, in partnership with a number of organizations, with expertise in humanitarian and development work, from various European countries, Palestinian Information Center quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting.

The conference will discuss the required response from humanitarian and development organizations in European civil society in providing emergency assistance to the inhabitants, especially in the area of caring for the displaced, sheltering the homeless, and developing an urgent response to medical needs in the aftermath of the Israeli attack, and the blockade imposed upon the Gaza Strip.

Al-Wafa conference will be held a few weeks after the Israeli attack on the Gaza Strip, in the context of the catastrophic consequences for Gaza’s inhabitants, including extensive homelessness of nearly a quarter of a million people due to the destruction of homes, and the injuries and disabilities inflicted on thousands of civilians.

Currently, shelter represents the urgent demand for the inhabitants of the Gaza Strip, which necessitates a search for quick and viable options that respond to the needs of those displaced before the start of winter. This requires amassing efforts and mobilizing resources to secure prospects for urgent shelter, quick repair of partially damaged homes, and commencing operations for rehabilitation of homes, residential facilities, civilian infrastructure and roads, according to the statement issued by al-Wafa campaign.

“The growing difficulties in the area of healthcare, following the destruction of medical facilities in the last Israeli attack, and the injuries and disabilities inflicted upon thousands of civilians, impose the need to develop an urgent response to the medical needs of those displaced and affected inhabitants, especially given the blockade, and closure imposed on the Gaza Strip.”

In July 2014, Israeli forces launched a military operation against the Gaza Strip, which completely destroyed or partially damaged tens of thousands of residential buildings, in addition to massive damage to infrastructure in towns, villages, and refugee camps. Around a quarter of a million Palestinians found themselves without shelter in an already overpopulated Gaza Strip, bursting with inhabitants; the majority of them refugees without the resources essential for life.(T/R04/R03)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)