OTTAWA,
ON, June 18, 2024 /CNW/ - As Parliament breaks
for summer, Canada's leading humanitarian agencies held a press
conference today on Parliament Hill to call on the Government of
Canada to take urgent and decisive actions to press for an end to
the war in Gaza and prevent
further mass atrocities.
Since October, we have witnessed the death of
tens of thousands of innocent civilians in Gaza, including a record number of targeted
attacks on humanitarian workers. Palestinians, including our own
teams and partners, face attacks, relentless bombing and continual
forced displacement. Those who survive risk dying from hunger,
dehydration, and sickness due to the denial of clean water, fuel,
healthcare and food. Under the threat of imminent famine, children
are dying of malnutrition, with numbers only projected to grow, due
to the intentional obstruction of humanitarian aid by Israeli
authorities.
The deliberate blocking of aid, coupled with the
ongoing indiscriminate violence and targeted attacks against
civilians and civilian infrastructure — clear violations of
international humanitarian law — have culminated in an
unprecedented and fully preventable humanitarian catastrophe, which
can and must come to an end.
In the last 8 months, we have seen the Government
of Canada demonstrate their ability to take effective positive
action on several instances, including its vote in favor of a
ceasefire on December 6th at the UN
General Assembly and the motion adopted on March 18th to stop arms transfers to Israel. Now again, as Parliament rises for the
summer, is the time for Canada to take further decisive actions
that match statements in support of international law.
Today, our 13 organizations called on the
Canadian government to urgently:
- Ensure the complete halt of all arms transfers to Israel, including those already agreed to
prior to January 8, 2024;
- Adopt robust diplomatic measures to pressure Israel to abide by the International Court of
Justice order to stop the obstruction of humanitarian
assistance;
- Join third-state efforts to press all parties to this conflict
to accept and immediately implement the ceasefire resolution
adopted by the UN Security Council on June
10, and ensure no new occupation or territorial modification
of Gaza;
- Concretely support, through robust funding and firm public
statements, support for humanitarian access and assistance,
with UNRWA as its cornerstone.
Right now, while Parliament and Canadians prepare
for their summer break, this human-made humanitarian crisis
deteriorates exponentially. Our teams on the ground continue to do
everything in their capacities to assist civilians desperately in
need of protection and aid. We urge our Canadian government to do
the same.
Quotes from the press conference
speakers:
Danny Glenwright,
Save the Children's President and CEO said: "It is appalling that
children are dying because of malnutrition, dehydration and disease
– deaths that sufficient humanitarian access would have prevented.
Their deaths are the result of aid restrictions, ongoing fighting,
and insufficient action from the international community to enforce
international humanitarian law. Save the Children calls for an
immediate and definitive ceasefire, it is the only way to save
lives in Gaza. There is no
alternative."
Béatrice Vaugrante, Oxfam-Québec Executive
Director, said: "It is unacceptable that we are collectively
letting famine set in across Gaza,
and allowing humanitarian action to be made nearly impossible by
persisting bombings, aid access denials, and targeting of
humanitarian facilities and personnel. Every red line in the
respect for basic principles of human dignity has been crossed.
Third states cannot give up their efforts to prevent further
catastrophe, including long-lasting obstacles to a sustainable
solution. Canada and other UN members must make clear that
Israel's occupation of the whole
of Gaza must come to an end under
the proposed ceasefire deal, as well as the West Bank, including East Jerusalem."
Darryl Loewn, Executive Director Mennonite
Central Committee Manitoba: "Can you help us help?" "This was the
call we received in October from partners in Gaza in response to the emerging humanitarian
crisis and devastating violence. Since then, they have not stopped
responding, nor have they stopped asking us to act to end violence
and increase the impact of their work. We also witness concern from
Canadians of faith and their desire to see everyone, in
Gaza, the West Bank, and Israel, living in peace and dignity. This is a
fully preventable catastrophe. As Mennonites, to call for peace and
justice is a part of our work. We urge the Canadian government to
help us help by doing everything in their power to act for an end
to violence, including pushing for a ceasefire and full delivery of
aid, and halting arms transfers."
Anne, Delorme, Executive Director of Humanity
& Inclusion Canada: "We call on the Government of Canada to put
pressure on all Parties to the conflict to reach a ceasefire. The
use of explosive weapons in populated areas has led to 37,000
deaths and 85,000 severely injured. These injuries include loss of
limbs and brain trauma that will lead to long term disabilities for
a generation of Palestinians. The use of explosive weapons in
Gaza also threatens the lives of
humanitarian aid workers, impeding their ability to respond
adequately and quickly to the vast and growing needs of
civilians."
Usama Khan, CEO of
Islamic Relief Canada said: "Palestinians in Gaza do not have the luxury to take a break or
step away from what is happening to them. Aid organizations have
been tirelessly underscoring the urgency of this situation and just
how catastrophic each passing day has been. Enduring over 250 days
of forced starvation, dehydration and incessant bombing,
Palestinians face an intolerable reality. They can not bear to
witness another day of this, let alone another few months. The
Canadian Government needs to take clear, concrete and urgent action
now."
Paul Farran,
Cooperation Canada's Director of Policy and Advocacy said: "Coming
out of the G7 held last week, Canada and other G7 countries
deplored all losses of civilian lives equally, and noted with great
concern the unacceptable number of civilian casualties especially
women and children. These words must be followed up on with
concrete actions to ensure the consistent respect of human life and
dignity, No party to any conflict bears the right to systematically
and repeatedly violate international law."
Quotes from endorsing
organizations calling for decisive action:
"As signatories to this urgent call for action,
IDRF stands firm in demanding decisive measures from Canada to
translate its statements into meaningful actions. The time for
rhetoric alone has passed; it's now about tangible, life-saving
actions." - Mahmood Qasim, CEO,
IDRF
"We refuse to be silent witnesses while Israël is intentionally
killing ten thousand people with bombs and denial of life-saving
assistance including vital health care. It is time for Canada to
move beyond words, and concretely do everything in its power to
stop the mass killing of civilians and other grave international
humanitarian law violations we are witnessing on a daily basis." -
Nadja Pollaert, Executive Director,
Doctors of the World Canada
"How many innocent Palestinians dead, injured,
traumatized and in famine will it take for Israel to stop this collective punishment?
When will Israel's allies say,
'enough is enough,' and that international law must be respected
and applied? Our partners are risking life and limb to deliver
precious food, water and medicine to people who have nowhere left
to run. In their name, we say that the blockades and bombings must
stop now! It is Canada's responsibility to press for a permanent
ceasefire; to unequivocally support the ICJ and ICC; and to help
build a just peace plan under which Israel and Palestine can coexist in dignity as
equals." - Carl Hétu, Executive Director, Development and Peace -
Caritas Canada
"Canada must step up its efforts to end the
violence and ensure Canadian humanitarian relief charities can
safely deliver aid to those in desperate need. We cannot afford to
be silent or passive; our actions today will determine the fate of
countless innocent lives. We urge the Canadian government to uphold
its commitments to international law and human rights by taking
bold and immediate steps to alleviate this crisis." - Mahmuda Khan, CEO, Human Concern
International
"Israel's
deliberate destruction and blocking of aid has made it impossible
for humanitarian agencies like Oxfam to provide life-saving
assistance in Gaza. The
withholding of aid from civilians and the targeting of aid workers
is in direct violation of International Humanitarian Law. Canada
must demonstrate its commitment to human rights and justice by
demanding an immediate and unconditional ceasefire and ensuring
humanitarian aid can reach those in need." - Lauren Ravon, Executive Director, Oxfam
Canada
"Children are always the innocent victims in any
conflict and suffer the most. Every child has the right to live
without violence and fear, a right that the global community must
protect. Right now, there is nowhere safe for civilians inside
Gaza. Plan International Canada
condemns all violence and calls for an immediate and unconditional
ceasefire from all parties involved. Canada must urgently intervene
to halt the grave violations of international humanitarian law
occurring in Gaza." - Lindsay Glassco, President and CEO, Plan
International Canada
"The blockade of aid into Gaza resulting from the ongoing conflict in
the region has deprived Palestinians of their basic human rights
and caused unimaginable suffering – particularly on women and
children. We cannot stand by while millions of lives hang in the
balance. The Government of Canada needs to take decisive actions to
ensure the unhindered delivery of humanitarian aid and an immediate
ceasefire." - Barbara Grantham,
ICD.D, President and CEO, CARE Canada
CARE Canada
Development and Peace - Caritas
Canada
Doctors of the World Canada
Humanity and Inclusion
Human Concern International
Islamic Relief Canada
Mennonite Central Committee Canada
Mennonite Central Committee Manitoba
Oxfam Canada
Oxfam-Québec
Plan International Canada
Save the Children
The International Development and Relief Foundation
SOURCE Islamic Relief Canada