The Lutheran World Federation

In just two days 1,064 newly homeless people were added to the more than 11,000 who had already lost their homes in Rafah since the start of the Intifada, the UN reports[1].

We, the undersigned international humanitarian organisations, find this situation unacceptable. We are appalled by Israeli Government plans to continue demolitions on this large scale and “create a new reality on the border between Egypt and Gaza” as stated by Shaul Mofaz, the Israeli Defense Minister on May 16^th 2004 in a cabinet meeting.

This new reality represents a humanitarian crisis for the people of Rafah as their houses, schools, clinics, religious institutions and other civilian infrastructure and humanitarian facilities are destroyed or damaged. Families are losing their homes, businesses, life savings and future security. Many are left dependent on temporary shelter, blankets, food and water donated by humanitarian organisations. The long term psychological effects on children are expected to be severe.

House demolitions on this scale are a clear violation of international humanitarian and human rights law. The right to housing is enshrined in Article 25 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

We, the undersigned, condemn all violations of international human rights and humanitarian law and call for

• An immediate halt to the demolition of citizen’s homes and property
• The Government of Israel to allow unrestricted humanitarian access into and within Gaza
• The international community to live up to its responsibilities under international law to protect the property of the citizens of Rafah
• The Government of Israel to accept and facilitate an international monitoring presence

Signed by:

A.M. Qattan Foundation
Academy for Educational Development (AED)
Accion contra el Hambre (ACH)
America’s Development Foundation (ADF)
America-Mideast Educational & Training Services (AMIDEAST)
American Friends Service Committee (AFSC)
American Near East Refugee Aid (ANERA)
Associazione Orlando
Care International
Caritas Jerusalem
Cooperazione e Sviluppo (CESVI)
Comitato Internazionale per lo Sviluppo dei Popoli (CISP)
Cooperazione Internazionale (COOPI)
Diakonia
Gruppo di Voluntariato Civile (GVC)
Handicap International
Islamic Relief
Japan Volunteer Center (JVC)
Kvinna till Kvinna Foundation – Sweden
Lutheran World Federation
Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP/UK)
Medecins du Monde – France
Medecins du Monde – Greece
Mennonite Central Committee (MCC)
Merlin
Movimondo Molisv
Near East Foundation & Cooperation for Development
Norwegian People’s Aid (NPA)
Oxfam International
Paz y Tercer Mundo (PTM)
Premiere Urgence
Ricerca e Cooperazione (RC)
Save the Children – Sweden
Save the Children – UK
Solidaridad Internacional
Solidartie Socialiste (FCD)
Swedish Organization for Individual Relief (SOIR)
Terre des Hommes (TDH)
Union Aid Abroad Australia
Unità e Cooperazione per lo Sviluppo dei Popoli (UCODEP)
Veterinaires sans Frontieres
Welfare Association
World Vision Jerusalem

For more information please contact:

Christina Badde/Fabricio Lomanto
AIDA Secretariat
Tel: 02 6566234
Fax: 02 6566236
Mobile: 055 825369/057 234126