German Red Cross / Deutsches Rotes Kreuz

In view of the escalation of the armed conflict between Israel and Gaza, the German Red Cross (GRC) is very concerned about the humanitarian situation of the civilian population. According to UN-OCHA, more than 1.5 million of the approximately 2.2 million people living in the Gaza Strip are internally displaced. Emergency shelters in the south of the Gaza Strip are scarce and overcrowded. People lack sufficient access to drinking water, food and basic goods. There is also a lack of fuel in the hospitals to maintain supplies.

In conflict and crisis situations, it is the task of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement to help affected people and alleviate suffering - according to the degree of need alone. Safe access for aid workers and a continuous supply of essential supplies are currently just as difficult as visits from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to the hostages. Both the ICRC and the GRC are calling for international humanitarian law to be respected. The civilian population and civilian infrastructure must be protected and humanitarian aid workers must be granted unhindered and safe access to the injured, wounded and people seeking protection.

How the German Red Cross helps

On January 7, 2024, a first flight with 33 tons of relief supplies could finally be dispatched from Leipzig to Egypt. A second aid flight with 26 tons of relief supplies followed on 8 January, including around 1,020 family tents, 1,000 tarpaulins for emergency shelters, six pallet trucks for humanitarian logistics and 50 rescue backpacks. On February 14, 2024, GRC sent new relief supplies for the civilian population in the Gaza Strip. 6,900 blankets, 3,000 sleeping bags, 14,000 sleeping mats, 5,000 tarpaulins and 35,000 hygiene packages were also brought to Egypt by truck and cargo ship and handed over to the Palestinian Red Crescent.

In cooperation with the Egyptian Red Crescent and the Palestinian Red Crescent, the relief supplies are being brought to the Gaza Strip as emergency humanitarian aid for the affected civilian population. Most people have had to leave their homes and are on the run. GRC is therefore providing support in the form of medical supplies for emergency care and emergency shelters.