Source: European Parliament
The Commission welcomes the ceasefire and urges all parties to ensure its full implementation, hoping that it will lead to a substantial and sustained increase in the delivery of humanitarian aid into Gaza.
The humanitarian situation remains dire, and the Commission is mobilising all available humanitarian instruments, providing EUR 450 million in aid through trusted humanitarian partners on the ground, including United Nations agencies and international non-governmental organisations, to address life-saving needs such as shelter, including the distribution of non-food items, food, health, water and sanitation.
The Commission has also deployed ReliefEU[1] to operate humanitarian air bridge flights, transporting for example over 4 000 tonnes of humanitarian supplies on behalf of Member States and humanitarian partners to meet the urgent needs of displaced families in Gaza.
In addition, t he European Union Civil Protection Mechanism[2] (UCPM) supported seven EU Member States in the delivery of shelter items to Gaza and continues to support the World Health Organisation in the evacuation of critically ill patients requiring specialised medical care outside the region.
Working closely with its trusted humanitarian partners, the Commission continues to monitor the situation on the ground to respond to the enormous needs of the population of Gaza.
- [1] ReliefEU Capacities: The objective of ReliefEU Capacities is to support humanitarian partners with services and operational capabilities, facilitating the quick delivery of humanitarian assistance, while ensuring greater effectiveness. New capacities will be developed throughout the year, with specific allocation rounds to be announced, calling on partners and Member States to submit proposals.
- [2] In October 2001, the European Commission established the EU Civil Protection Mechanism. The Mechanism aims to strengthen civil protection cooperation between the EU countries and 10 additional participating states to improve prevention, preparedness, and response to disasters.
Any country hit by a disaster, in Europe and beyond, can request emergency assistance through the Mechanism. The Commission plays a key role in coordinating the disaster response and contributing to the transport and/or operational costs of deployments.