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Supporting the International Committee of the Red Cross in Gaza: How DFID aid helps the ICRC to deliver help where it's most needed

When people think of the conflict that struck those living in and close to the Gaza Strip at the end of 2008, they remember the scenes of the death and destruction. More than 1,400 people in the Gaza Strip, including many civilians, were killed and over 5,600 wounded.

During the conflict, efforts to evacuate the sick and wounded and distribute relief supplies were severely hampered by the prevailing insecurity and a number of aid workers were killed or wounded. Extensive damage was inflicted on medical facilities, civilian housing and public infrastructure including water, sanitation and power networks. Thousands of people were left homeless.

Speaking at a press conference in March 2009 when he visited Gaza, Department for International Development Minister Douglas Alexander said he was "horrified by the scale of human suffering". Media outlets covered the events in as much detail as they were able to.

During those weeks of anguish, people were risking - and sometimes losing - their lives on a daily basis as they attempted to rescue and help those caught up in the violence.

The efforts made by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to provide life saving humanitarian assistance despite the danger, was supported by DFID.

DFID's allocation for the response on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza was £26.8million; ICRC received a large portion of this (£4m).

Described by one member of staff as "the perfect example of saving lives and alleviating suffering, whilst trying to maintain dignity in a situation that was complex and dangerous", ICRC is recognised as being the oldest and one of the best-performing humanitarian organisation in the world.

It is widely recognised as being an effective humanitarian agency due to their ability to provide neutral and independent humanitarian assistance.

DFID Minister Mike Lewis said: "The recent events in Gaza and Sri Lanka have once again demonstrated how vitally important the ICRC's role is in preserving humanity in war today."

Working in Gaza

The ICRC is often afforded unique access to critical conflict situations such as Gaza, where it has been present since 1967.

The ICRC employs 85 people in Gaza and works closely with the associated national societies of the Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS) and across the border in its sister organisation, the Israeli Magen David Adom (MDA).

Aside from offering support to national societies, the ICRC also teaches international humanitarian law, visits people held in detention, restores contact between family members and supports livelihood projects.

With support from the ICRC, the humanitarian community delivered an estimated 4,500 tonnes of drugs, medical and hospital equipment to the central medical store in Gaza City.

Dr. Mauro Dall Torre, an ICRC surgeon assigned to help staff in Shifa hospital describes the incredible variety of injuries he is treating, and although professional, is clearly tired "...extremely bad, due to blast...devastating to the body, mostly to the limbs. We see every day the number of young patients...penetrating head trauma...all of them are young, young".

During the conflict, ambulances and trucks transporting medical supplies were hit and damaged, and three PRCS ambulances completely destroyed. A number of aid workers were killed or wounded, including Arafa a 35-year-old science teacher and part-time volunteer who died as a result of injuries from shelling.

Extensive damage was also inflicted on medical facilities - three hospitals were directly hit; seven hospitals sustained collateral damage; eight primary health care clinics destroyed.

Working across borders

The relationship between the Palestinian and Israeli societies working under the umbrella of the ICRC, is a moving testament to the dedication of their staff working in dangerous circumstances when their own family members may have been affected.

In total, between 27 December 2008 and 18 January 2009, the PRCS evacuated around 2,400 injured people, attended 1,200 trapped civilians and dealt with 750 bodies.

In southern Israel, the MDA were kept on high alert with the deployment of some 200 ambulances and emergency medical personnel in the areas close to Gaza. During the 23 days of fighting, the MDA received thousands of calls for help. It assisted a total of 770 victims, including 4 with severe injuries, 178 with moderate or minor injuries and over 584 stress-related cases.

The Egyptian Red Crescent Society has also played a key role in dispatching tonnes of material - essentially medical supplies and ambulances provided mainly by sister national societies, from their point of arrival by air or sea in Egypt to the border with Gaza.

The ICRC also co-ordinates on a broader scale. Through its contacts in key locations - notably Gaza City, Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, Amman, Cairo, Geneva and New York - the ICRC synchronizes its activities with United Nations agencies and other humanitarian organisations active on the ground in conflicts and other humanitarian disasters.

This allows it to maximize its impact, fill gaps and avoid duplication of effort.

Protecting livelihoods: The ICRC continues to provide the people of Gaza with far more than just emergency healthcare. One example is the assistance it provides to many of the Gaza farmers whose livelihoods were severely affected by the conflict as they could no longer work on their land.

ICRC staff accompanied farmers to their fields to increase their protection and allow them to work - crucially helping to protect the livelihoods of the 27% of Gaza's population that depends on agricultural employment.

"The first thing to do is clear debris from the fields in preparation for planting," says one of the farmers living in northern Beit Lahia.

Once clear, the whole family gets to work: "Thank God, we have enough manpower and energy," says Abu Nidal, the eldest son in the family, looking proudly at his brothers. "We even managed to find a bulldozer. It will make our work much easier."