Concern Worldwide welcomes Gaza ceasefire and calls for full-scale humanitarian access
Concern Worldwide welcomes the ceasefire confirmed yesterday as part of the Gaza peace deal and urges all parties to seize this opportunity to enable immediate, sustained, and unhindered humanitarian access for those in urgent need.
More than two years of conflict have resulted in widespread suffering, with famine confirmed by the IPC to be occurring in Gaza. While the ceasefire will halt hostilities, civilians continue to face impossible choices in their daily struggle to survive.
“We welcome this U.S.-brokered peace deal and the hope it brings to families who have endured unimaginable hardship,” said Colleen Kelly, CEO of Concern Worldwide US. “Now is the time to open every route possible for humanitarian aid. People in Gaza need clean water, food, and medical care — and they need it now.”
Concern Worldwide is working through its partner CESVI in Gaza to deliver clean water for drinking and cooking to displaced communities across ten locations in Khan Younis, Deir al Balah, and Gaza City. To date, Concern and CESVI have reached over 100,000 people, with water deliveries taking place daily.
In addition to trucking water, CESVI teams are improving water and sanitation facilities by building toilets, installing cisterns, conducting hygiene promotion sessions, and distributing hygiene kits containing soap, water containers, and sanitary pads.
“The top priority must be to ensure there is unhindered land access for the United Nations and humanitarian organizations to resume full-scale food, medicines, and essential supply distribution,” said Dominic Crowley, Global CEO of Concern Worldwide.
“All barriers preventing the safe delivery of principled humanitarian aid must be removed. Humanitarian workers must be protected and assisted in their work. International humanitarian law must be respected.”
A major humanitarian response is urgently required if lives are to be saved. Without swift, decisive, and sustained action, more lives will be lost, and communities will be denied the chance to recover. Concern Worldwide stands ready to ramp up its response.
“The ceasefire and wider implementation of all stages of the proposed peace agreement must be realized. As of today, access for the delivery of vital food and medical assistance must be provided,” Mr. Crowley added.
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