Jerusalem – A coalition of international aid agencies today warned that tens of thousands of Gazans are still homeless and without basic services such as piped drinking water three months after the 18 January ceasefire.

The agencies, including Oxfam International, CARE West Bank and Gaza, War Child

Holland and Medical Aid for Palestinians, also called on the international community -

and the European Union in particular which in the coming weeks will consider

strengthening ties with Israel - to do more than pay lip service to the needs of the people

of Gaza whose lives were torn apart during the three-week military operation.

"If the EU does not put the brakes on the process to strengthen ties with Israel, it will be

sending a dangerous signal to the world that maintaining a destructive policy of closure

is acceptable," said Martha Myers, Country Director of CARE West Bank and Gaza.

"Gaza's industry, including the agricultural sector, has almost completely collapsed and

reconstruction has proved a near impossible task. Operation Cast Lead destroyed

Gaza's economy which was already severely weakened after months of blockade. It

makes no sense to continue depriving ordinary people the opportunity to earn a living

and support their families. The crossings must be opened now to allow the normal flow

of commerce. If they are not, the people of Gaza simply will not recover," added Myers.

Reconstruction in Gaza is severely constrained. Materials such as cement and

reinforced steel rods are still being denied entry by Israel. This means that the 20,000

families - or at least 140,000 people - whose homes were destroyed or rendered

uninhabitable as a result of the conflict are unable to rebuild their lives. Many are living

in tents and in makeshift shelters constructed with salvaged bricks and plastic sheeting,

with no end in sight.

Furthermore, some 35,000 people still do not have access to piped water or safe

sewage disposal. And, three months on, there are still damaged schools, universities,

health clinics, hospitals and other parts of the civilian infrastructure that have not been

repaired. Most food items and some medicines have been allowed in through the single

crossing of Kerem Shalom, but entry remains erratic and many medicines remain out of

stock in Gaza.

"There has been zero progress in allowing construction materials in to help people

rebuild their lives. This is unacceptable, full stop. World leaders must take practical

steps to fully open the crossings and exert as much pressure on Israel and all parties to

ensure that families can finally see a light at the end of what has been a very long and

dark tunnel. A drip-feed of food aid and medicines is simply not enough," said John

Prideaux-Brune, country director for Oxfam GB in Jerusalem.

The scenes of devastation and despair in Gaza have drawn expressions of dismay

across the world from senior world figures such as Javier Solana, the EU's High

Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy, who said in February that the

EU would be helping in the reconstruction process.

Such welcome statements must be followed up by concrete action that will benefit the

people of Gaza. Israel continues to fail to meet its obligations of respecting the basic

rights of Gazans by denying unrestricted movement to and from Gaza for people, goods

and supplies.

Ends

This statement is made on behalf of the following members of the Association of

International Development Agencies (AIDA) regarding the crisis in Gaza:

CARE West Bank and Gaza

Oxfam International

War Child Holland

Medical Aid for Palestinians

Action Against Hunger

Norwegian Refugee Council

Caritas Jerusalem

Lutheran World Federation

Diakonia

Austcare

Gruppo Volontariato Civile

The Swedish Organisation for Individual Relief

Defense for Children International/ Palestine Section

Norwegian Church Aid

ACSUR-Las Segovias

Medico International

Campaign for the Children of Palestine: CCP-JAPAN

Paz con Dignidad

Mennonite Central Committee

CISS - Cooperazione Internazionale Sud Sud

Japan International Volunteer Center

ACTED

Premiere Urgence

MPDL: Movement for Peace, Disarmament and Liberty

For interviews or more information please contact:

Jennifer Abrahamson, Oxfam, +972 (0) 577 399781