The horrific violence that has engulfed Gaza and Israel since October 7 is affecting millions of innocent civilians. CARE International Secretary-General Sofia Sprechmann Sineiro highlights the main concerns and urges for an immediate de-escalation of the conflict:
“We are alarmed by the outburst of violence in Israel and Gaza that shows no signs of abating and risks spreading to other territories. The atrocities committed against innocent Israelis last weekend are beyond comprehension. If the current escalation continues, the price already paid by civilians will surpass anything we have seen in decades.
CARE has worked in Gaza since 1948. Our colleagues there tell us there is no safe place for them, their families, or anyone else, to seek shelter at this time.
Relevant internationally agreed laws must be upheld, which include ensuring that the people of Gaza have access to basic life-saving necessities, including safe water, food, and medical care.
The cuts in electricity and water supplies to the 2.3 million people of the Gaza Strip, half of whom are children, must be immediately lifted. Aid supplies inside Gaza will be exhausted very quickly, and water is already running out. It is also already impacting hospitals at a time when they are needed the most.
Previous experience shows that armed conflicts in the Gaza Strip, one of the most densely populated areas in the world which also hosts overcrowded refugee camps, cause high civilian casualties. The speed of the escalation in violence across this region is terrifying, first and foremost for those who have no clear escape route.
In what is one of the world’s most complex and polarising contexts, we urge compassion, humanity, and restraint by all sides. A de-escalation of this conflict is desperately required with the support from the international community and leaders in the region. All wars have laws, which all sides of this conflict must abide by."