Barnfonden och ChildFund Alliance fördömer Israels attack mot World Central Kitchens hjälparbetare i Gaza

Vi fördömer Israels omotiverade och förebyggbara attack mot våra humanitära kollegor från World Central Kitchen i Gaza. Trots den ökade risken för hjälparbetares liv kommer vår ChildFund Alliance-medlem, WeWorld, att fortsätta sina livräddande insatser i Gaza.

Som barnrättsorganisation vet vi att barnen är de som drabbas värst i krig och konflikter. Vi upprepar vårt krav om ett omedelbart och permanent eldupphör för att säkerställa att civila skyddas och att hjälporganisationer obehindrat kan ta sig in med humanitärt stöd som vatten, mat och sjukvård till befolkningen.

Nedan följer ChildFund Alliance uttalande i sin helhet.

4 April 2024

ChildFund Alliance Condemns Attack on Humanitarian Workers in Gaza

ChildFund Alliance is devastated to learn of the brutal attack on staff from World Central Kitchen. This tragic loss of life is both unjustifiable and was entirely preventable. Our deepest condolences go out to their families.

Humanitarian workers play an essential role during a crisis and particularly so in times of war. Right now in Gaza, these workers are focused on ensuring the survival of everyday civilians – children and families – who have no involvement in the conflict being raged around them yet are most vulnerable to its worst impacts.

To date, it is estimated that close to 200 aid staff have been killed including more than 180 UN staff, marking the highest number of UN civilian aid workers killed in any conflict in such a short time since the creation of the organization. Our member WeWorld, which has operated in Palestine since 1992, has been delivering aid since the conflict began, and is deeply concerned about the safety of its own staff as well as the many agencies and workers it partners with.

Dina Taddia, CEO of WeWorld, said: “This attack has no precedent. The World Central Kitchen convoy had been coordinating its movements with the relevant Israeli authorities, as do other humanitarian agencies. Each aid delivery had been communicated in advance, the convoy was travelling in a safe zone, and their vehicle was clearly marked. What this attack means is that any humanitarian activity is Gaza is no longer safe, which could result in a suspension of all activities. This will have a catastrophic impact on the population in Gaza, especially women and children.”

It is absolutely imperative to protect humanitarian workers, as well as the civilian communities they serve. The loss of life in Gaza has now surpassed 32,000, with many thousands more injured. The death toll is largely made up of women and children.

ChildFund Alliance, along with humanitarian organizations and the international community, reiterates our call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. Any barriers hindering the delivery of widespread humanitarian aid need to be removed to ensure its safe distribution across Gaza, facilitate unimpeded aid movements, and safeguard the welfare of humanitarian personnel. We urge the relevant parties to step up negotiations, bring this conflict to an end, and prevent any additional, and needless, loss of innocent life.