LONDON (AFP) — Aid agency Oxfam on Sunday urged world leaders to stop Israel from launching further attacks on the Gaza Strip, saying the military action risked triggering a humanitarian crisis.
The international charity said it had been forced to suspend most of its humanitarian work in the territory and said a programme that would feed 25,000 people had also been put on hold.
Gazans face a humanitarian crisis unless the bombardment stops and Israel allows immediate access for aid shipments, Oxfam said.
"Hundreds of thousands of people in Gaza depend on Oxfam and other international aid agencies for the basics of life -- clean water, food and sanitation," said John Prideaux-Brune, Oxfam Great Britain's country programme manager in Jerusalem.
"Gaza has been shut off from the outside world for 19 months and people there are already on the edge. There's a real risk of a humanitarian crisis unless the bombing stops now.
"The international community must not stand aside and allow Israeli leaders to commit massive and disproportionate violence against Gazan civilians in violation of international law.
"Oxfam condemns outright Hamas's rocket attacks on Israeli civilians. However they cannot justify this overwhelming military response which is killing innocent civilians.
"World leaders must take all necessary actions to stop attacks by all parties and must push the Israelis to continuously open all crossing points into Gaza."
Copyright © 2009 AFP. All rights reserved. More »
