In the aftermath of the Israeli military operation in Gaza, aid agencies say it is critical that full and unhindered humanitarian access to Gaza be granted immediately by all parties to the conflict.

International agencies have faced unprecedented denial of access to Gaza since 5 November, says the Association of International Development Agencies, an international body of aid agencies working in Gaza and the West Bank whose members include Caritas and World Vision.

AIDA said a small group of international humanitarian workers were allowed to enter Gaza for the first time in almost three months on 23 January.

It said, however, that humanitarian access remains unreliable and needs to be granted every day without restriction, saying that prior to 23 January only a handful of medical emergency staff had managed to cross into Gaza.

“The fact that some international staff entered Gaza is a positive step in the right direction. However, we need constant and consistent, unfettered humanitarian access in order to better help the desperate civilian families of Gaza who have lost their homes and businesses and are struggling amid shortages of food, supplies, cash, healthcare and fuel,” said Charles Clayton, Chair of the Association of International Development Agencies.

“It is unacceptable that staff of international aid agencies with expertise in emergency response are still not given full access into Gaza, and that the crossings are not fully operational for humanitarian and commercial flows of goods and people.”

Following the last outbreak of conflict, Gaza has sustained severe and widespread destruction to its civilian infrastructure. According to the Palestinian Bureau of Statistics, an estimated 21,000 homes have been partially destroyed and 4,000 completely destroyed. In addition, there has been substantial damage to schools, hospitals, clinics, water and sewage facilities, electrical lines and other public facilities.

Thousands of people were forced into temporary shelters such as the UNRWA schools, and many more are lodged with family or friends. The United Nations says 100,000 people are now homeless, while the total number of people displaced who require assistance is still unknown.

A recent survey conducted by aid agency CARE shows that 86 per cent of respondents have cash shortages and half say that food is their most urgent need. Basic healthcare services have also been badly hit with shortages of antibiotics, medicine for fever, diabetes, heart disease and hypertension.

AIDA called for all crossings into Gaza to be operational 24 hours a day in order to bring in spare parts and fuel for the main power plant, hospitals and water and sewage treatment facilities, as well as the construction materials needed to rebuild the destroyed schools, hospitals, clinics and homes.

“Gaza needs a broad-based humanitarian response beyond providing medical aid, emergency medical treatment and small-scale relief such as food and water,” said AIDA. “Humanitarian access is woefully inadequate and we call for immediate action on the part of all parties to ensure that immediate humanitarian assistance – people and goods – is allowed to enter Gaza freely and that it promptly reaches those in need. Without adequate materials and cash, recovery efforts will be greatly undermined, and the population of Gaza – already heavily reliant on international assistance as a result of the 19-month blockade – will become completely dependent on aid.”