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UN Undersecretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Mark Lowcock on Tuesday called for a humanitarian pause in the escalating violence in Israel and Gaza.
Daily Noon Briefing Highlights – 19 May 2021
Occupied Palestinian territory and Israel
Emergency Relief Coordinator Mark Lowcock yesterday released a statement on the situation in the occupied Palestinian territory and Israel, echoing the Secretary-General’s calls for the parties to stop the aerial and artillery bombardments and the indiscriminate launching of rockets, which have brought nothing but death, destruction and widespread trauma.
Mr. Lowcock called for funding for a speedy response and access to enable the humanitarian community to respond to the extent needed.
The oPt Humanitarian Fund is expected to release US$14 million towards the response, and the Secretary-General and Mr. Lowcock will be launching a fuller appeal soon.
Supporting Gazans to afford better food choices
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Assistance is first step towards a more sustainable income
Mahmoud Az Za aneen is the sole breadwinner in a large, 13-member family, including two elderly parents. The family lives in a small house in a town in North Gaza. Mahmoud worked as a construction painter for 12 years, but a worsening medical condition from exposure to paint chemicals hampered his ability to work. Despite his efforts, Mahmoud faced difficulties securing permanent work in the deteriorating economy in Gaza and struggled to provide food for his family. I have faced many problems providing food for my family and we spent many days eating only tomatoes. I had to borrow money. Most of time I couldn t buy chicken for Friday s meal, but when I could, you can t imagine how happy my children were; it was like a wedding party for them. (Mahmoud Az Za aneen)
Home quarantine compounds the hardship of thousands of families in Gaza
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Rana, a 14 -year-old girl from Khan Younis, had to spend three weeks in quarantine at home, after being in contact with a relative who tested positive for COVID-19. She spent this period with her father and siblings, while her mother was outside the country. I was very afraid of what might happen to us and wasn’t able to do my homework or anything else,” said Rana.
Since the detection of the first case of COVID-19 transmission within the community in the Gaza Strip in late August, the number of people who contracted the virus soared from around 150 to over 39,000 by end December 2020, and fatalities from three to some 350. As the number of cases surged, the local authorities had to adapt the modalities of isolation for those who tested positive or were in contact with them, as well as for those returning to Gaza, via Israel or Egypt.