WASHINGTON - The Board of Peace on Monday warned of an escalating humanitarian emergency in the Gaza Strip after severe seasonal flooding over the past two days inundated tens of thousands of tents and makeshift shelters, leaving displaced families exposed to cold, unsafe and increasingly difficult living conditions, Anadolu Ajansi (AA) reported.
"The situation no longer represents simply a threat posed by the approaching winter but an immediate humanitarian emergency.
"The urgent entry and distribution of essential shelter, sanitation, drainage, and other winterisation supplies is critical to protecting civilian lives,” the Board said in a statement.
The Board said it had repeatedly warned about the risk of flooding and deteriorating shelter conditions and had urged all parties to fulfil their commitments under President Donald Trump's Comprehensive Peace Plan.
"We have specifically urged the Israeli government to authorise the entry of essential materials for temporary shelter, water and sanitation infrastructure, waste management, drainage, and sewage removal, and to abide by its commitments under the Sharm El-Sheikh Humanitarian Protocol,” it stressed.
While acknowledging steps being considered by the Israeli government, including through the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT), the Board said the response remained "insufficient.”
"We call on the leadership of the current Government of Israel to act immediately to authorise and facilitate the entry of all necessary winterisation and humanitarian supplies, and to fully implement its commitments under the President’s Comprehensive Peace Plan.
"Delays in these approvals and the implementation of the commitments undertaken at Sharm El-Sheikh have exacerbated the consequences of a foreseeable humanitarian challenge and significantly delayed the start of the decommissioning of weapons and transfer of authority from Hamas to the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG),” it added.
The Board also called on Hamas to fulfil its commitments under the peace plan, including laying down its weapons and transferring governing authority to the NCAG.
Additionally, the Board urged the UN, its agencies, and international donors to coordinate urgently with the organisation to mobilise the resources, supplies and operational support needed to address Gaza's immediate winterisation requirements.
Warning that further delays in implementing commitments under the peace plan would carry serious consequences for Gaza's civilian population and the prospects for lasting peace, the Board stressed that commitments must translate into "immediate, measurable action".
Finally, the Board warned that parties failing to meet their respective obligations would bear direct responsibility for the consequences. - BERNAMA