Only 9,000 euros still collected for victims of Middle East conflict

Belgian Red Cross-Flanders Calls for continued support for victims:
"One of the greatest humanitarian crises in recent history"

Just under three weeks after the escalation of the Middle East conflict, the situation in the region has gone from bad to worse. Hospitals cannot keep up with the immense need for medical interventions and their staff is working in very difficult conditions: they often have no access to electricity, there is a shortage of equipment and they are also running out of medication. Nor are they spared the violence, as the devastating attack on Al Ahli hospital last week proved once again. Hospitals, medical personnel, the sick and wounded are protected under International Humanitarian Law. The entire international Red Cross movement therefore calls for these rules to be respected in order to minimize human suffering.

"Our thoughts go out not only to the affected aid workers, but to all the victims and their families. This applies, by the way, to the victims on both sides of the conflict. The situations in the hospitals are a very sad example of how great the humanitarian needs on the ground are. And this is precisely why all the help we can provide from our country is needed more than ever. So obviously, the fact that so far we have collected only 9,000 euros for humanitarian aid is not good news. We understand that there have already been many humanitarian crises in the past 2 years, from the conflict in Ukraine, to the earthquakes in Turkey and Syria, to the earthquakes in Morocco and storm Daniel in Libya. So people have already provided a lot of support for various emergencies. But the victims in the Middle East should certainly not be forgotten now: they need our help more than ever." Sofie De Jaeger, Manager International Cooperation - Belgian Red Cross-Flanders

So far, there have been more than 6,000 civilian fatalities and more than 20,000 wounded. In addition, about one million people have had to leave their homes, either fleeing or finding temporary shelter in United Nations shelters.

emergency relief scale up

Several Red Cross societies are active in the region, including the Palestinian Red Crescent, Magen David Adom - that's the name of the Israeli Red Cross Society - and the International Red Cross, among others. More than 8,000 victims have thus already received urgent medical assistance and relief supplies have already been distributed to some 75,000 people. This includes, for example, water, food parcels, hygiene kits, blankets or mattresses.

 "But there is a need for much more humanitarian support. In the meantime, the fact that trucks with medical equipment and relief supplies are gradually being let into the Gaza Strip through the border with Egypt is a small ray of hope in that regard. All the more reason to scale up that emergency relief tremendously now, so that many more victims can be helped." Sofie De Jaeger, Manager International Cooperation - Belgian Red Cross-Flanders

Anyone wishing to contribute can do so via account number BE53 0000 0000 5353 with the mention'conflict Middle East', or simply online via rodekruis.be/conflict.