OCTOBER 28, 2023–“Since last night, we have lost contact with our CARE colleagues, family members and loved ones in Gaza, following a complete communications blackout, and reportedly the most intense round of shelling and airstrikes at any time during these last three weeks.
Before the blackout, our team in Gaza described the situation as something out of a horror film, adding that they have to hug their children to try and help them sleep.
The 2.3 million people in the Gaza Strip, half of whom are children, are facing an unprecedented catastrophe.
Bread is now rationed; families are going hungry; clean water has been extremely scarce since October 9; many are drinking contaminated water; healthcare is collapsing with hospitals closing for lack of fuel and medicines and doctors are operating without disinfectant or even anaesthesia. Equally worrying are the skin diseases and diarrhoea spreading in overcrowded shelters.
We urge an immediate ceasefire before this acute crisis reaches catastrophic levels. We must ensure safe, unimpeded access for humanitarian workers so they can help people in need of assistance, which includes being able to contact our teams inside Gaza.
There are clear and simple rules of international humanitarian law that all parties must abide by: civilians, including humanitarian workers, must be protected, and the medical mission must be respected at all times; civilians trapped in areas where evacuation orders were issued are still protected under international law.
I am extremely worried for what the next few days hold in store and for the safety of my team.”
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CARE has spokespeople available. For media inquiries, please contact:
Media Relations
CARE Canada
media@care.ca
About CARE Canada:
Founded in 1945 with the creation of the CARE Package℠, CARE is a leading humanitarian organization working around the globe to save lives, defeat poverty, and achieve social justice. CARE puts women and girls at the centre of our work because we know we cannot overcome poverty until all people have equal rights and opportunities. CARE develops solutions alongside women and girls to lift themselves, their families, and communities out of poverty and out of crisis. CARE works in over 100 countries around the world.
To learn more about CARE Canada, visit care.ca.