|PIC1|As the crisis in Lebanon absorbs all media focus, Church World Service has come out to warn of the plight of Palestinians living in the Occupied Palestinian Territories where more than a hundred have been killed in the conflict during the last month.

Church World Service said in a press release that the situation in Gaza is “equally critical” and that the humanitarian situation could “only be described as critical”, as the escalating conflict in the region puts even more strain on the already diminishing supplies of food, electricity and water.

“The eyes of the world are focused on Lebanon, but our situation here is chaotic,” said Constantine Dabbagh, Director of the Gaza-based Middle East Council of Churches’ Department of Service to Palestinian Refugees (MECC/DSPR), long-time Church World Service partner and member of member of Action by Churches Together (ACT) International.

Power supplies have also been halved since the bombing of Gaza’s only electricity power station by Israeli forces at the end of June.

The power shortages have led to vast amounts of food, medicines and vaccines being destroyed as refrigerators cease to work, and hundreds of medical operations have to be cancelled.

Hospitals, now relying on fuel-guzzling generators, are also beginning to struggle as the conflict in the region makes it increasingly difficult to get fuel supplies into Gaza.

|AD|In addition, many people cannot afford to buy the food brought in when the main cargo entry point of Gaza, Karni Crossing, was opened temporarily to allow the delivery of supplies.

“It is important to remember in our prayers, our thoughts, and by our support, the people who are suffering as a result of this conflict,” says Henrik Fröjmark, the Secretary for the Middle East of the Church of Sweden, a member of ACT.

Church World Service warned that although one million people in Lebanon had been displaced by the latest conflict, the situation in Gaza is “equally critical”.

“Gaza is facing a terrible humanitarian situation. The supply of fresh water, which is an absolute necessity in [a region where temperatures can reach] 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit), is in principle non-existent. Particularly in the refugee camps the situation is extremely serious,” Henrik Fröjmark says.

“People who are employed by the Palestinian Authority have not received their wages for several months,” MECC/DSPR’s Mr Dabbagh said. “They number some 60,000 to 70,000 people, many of whom have up to seven family members relying on them for food,” he added.

“We appeal to the world around to make sure that there is an end to this occupation. We cannot continue like this for much longer,” said Mr Dabbagh.