(WASHINGTON) — CARE is deeply concerned about violent clashes in Gaza between Palestinian demonstrators and Israeli security forces that have left more than fifty Palestinians dead, and over two thousand wounded. The violence is taking place against the backdrop of the relocation of the US Embassy to Jerusalem and the 70th anniversary of the 1948 war and the establishment of the State of Israel, which resulted in the displacement of 700,000 Palestinians.
René Celaya, Country Director of CARE’s programs in the Palestinian territory, said:
“Right now, there is a growing need for urgent humanitarian assistance to Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank as the U.S. has placed a hold on many life-saving programs, including those that provide emergency food, water, sanitation, and health care. We urge the US government to lift its hold on funding for humanitarian programs in the Palestinian territory.
The situation in Gaza is particularly dire: Only three percent of the water is potable, and neighborhoods only receive electricity for a few hours a day. Unemployment is at 40 percent (60 percent among youths) and 80 percent of the population depends on some kind of humanitarian assistance.”
In Gaza and around the world CARE supports families and communities who are survivors of conflict. In Gaza, and in the West Bank, CARE’s programs strengthen basic health services and support women and men to leverage their small agricultural production into small businesses.
Since 1948, CARE has supported vulnerable families in Israel and the Palestinian territory of Gaza and the West Bank with CARE Packages©, food distribution and vocational training. Today, CARE supports families’ access to medical services and strengthens their ability to earn a living from small agricultural production and other small businesses. In the last few years, CARE has reached over 60,000 Palestinian families (400,000 people) annually with the support of various government donors.
ABOUT CARE
CARE is a leading humanitarian organization fighting global poverty. CARE places special focus on working alongside poor women and girls because, equipped with the proper resources, they have the power to lift whole families and entire communities out of poverty. Last year, CARE worked in 94 countries and reached more than 80 million people around the world. To learn more, please visit www.care.org and www.care-international.org.