The Palestinian NGOs Network affirms that the Israeli occupation is the main cause of the humanitarian crises in the Gaza Strip, pointing to the unprecedented rise in poverty and unemployment rates, and food insecurity in the Gaza Strip, as a result of the continuation of the Israeli blockade that has been going on for more than sixteen years, accompanied by multiple aggressive military attacks on the Gaza Strip, in addition to the slow reconstruction process, lack of humanitarian funding, and its repercussions on the reality of the lives of Palestinians, especially the most vulnerable groups in the Gaza Strip.
On World Humanitarian Day, which falls on the nineteenth of August, PNGOs Network condemns the restrictions imposed by the Israeli occupation authorities on humanitarian organizations in the occupied Palestinian territory in general, and the Gaza Strip in particular, given the continued deterioration of the humanitarian situation at all levels and in light of the international silence that the occupation exploits to commit continuous violations against the Palestinian people, which deepens the humanitarian crisis they are experiencing.
PNGOs Network affirms that the Palestinian division and the restrictions imposed during the past period limit the ability of various humanitarian organizations to respond to the needs resulting from the occupation's violations and the ongoing blockade, which weakens the Palestinian people's ability to resilience.
PNGOs Network stresses that the deficit of international funding for humanitarian work in Palestine, especially in the Gaza Strip, has seriously affected the reality of large segments of the Palestinian people, especially through the funding crisis experienced by the World Food Program, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) and many other humanitarian organizations.
PNGOs Network points to the significant and continuous shortfall in funding the Humanitarian Response Plan for the Palestinian Territory, and its significant reflection on the reality of the most vulnerable groups in Palestinian society, especially in the Gaza Strip.
PNGOs Network salutes all humanitarian workers and calls on the international community to put pressure on the occupation authorities to stop the continuous violations and attacks on the Palestinian people, which fall within the framework of collective punishment, and at the same time affect the entire humanitarian work system, which requires work to fully lift the blockade on Gaza Strip, to alleviate the repercussions of the humanitarian crisis experienced by the Palestinian people.
PNGOs Network calls on the funders community to act quickly to cover the large deficit in humanitarian programs especially the tangible financial deficit witnessed by Palestinian NGOs which negatively affects their various programs directed at vulnerable and marginalized social groups.
PNGOs Network calls on the international community to confront the occupation's incitement campaign against Palestinian civil society organizations.
PNGOs Network affirms the need for the Palestinian authorities to lift restrictions on the work of civil society organizations and guarantee the right to form associations and allow them to work freely and independently without interference.
PNGOs Network believes that the partnership between institutions working in the field of humanitarian work constitutes the real entrance to achieving the principles of localization of humanitarian work, the adoption of the tripartite link between relief and development, and peacemaking within the framework of the inalienable and legitimate national rights of the Palestinian people and based on the unity of the Palestinian territory.