Please find here: the Arabic version
We are aware access to electricity is a challenge and affected people in Gaza might not be able to see this, but we are hoping that family members living outside the occupied territories can and will relay any information they deem important to their loved ones whenever possible.
How can the ICRC help me?
Since the beginning of hostilities, in Gaza, we were able to supply the Civil Defense, and other EMS providers, with gloves, bandages, sterile water, oxygen masks, blankets, scissors, adhesive bandages and other essential medical equipment for their response.
The Palestinian Red Crescent Society has distributed essential household items like mattresses and blankets to collective centres in Gaza City. We dispatched a truck of medical supplies (stretchers, beds, body bags) to a hospital in Gaza.
We have donated 280 body bags and 12 stretchers to the Ministry of Health.
We are pre-positioning life-saving supplies, including medicine and thousands of household kits for families which include hygiene items and chlorine tablets for drinking water, so that we’re ready when access to Gaza is granted, which it must urgently be.
We have health staff, including a mobile surgical team, a weapons contamination expert, and relief coordinators specialized in water and habitat and food security on standby.
We have received many enquiries from people in and outside of Gaza desperate to know about the fate of their missing family members.
We understand how devastating it is for the families not to know the fate of loved ones. Within the ICRC’s mandate and capacities, we are ready to do everything we can to help.
We are compiling these enquiries and are speaking with the authorities to try and clarify the fate of the individuals concerned. This can take some time given the volatile situation now. We will be in touch with families directly to keep them informed.
How can I contact the ICRC?
For contact in Arabic, you can reach the ICRC by calling: 08 283 2400.
Our lines are working every day of the week from 08:00 to 20:00.
Please note that: Due to power and network cuts the team might be temporarily unable to answer the call.
Privacy and confidentiality of the information we receive is of the utmost importance to us. Therefore, the ICRC does not use WhatsApp, or any other online messaging app for its services. Thank you for your understanding.
Can you help me find a family member I have lost contact with?
We are very sorry you don’t have news from your loved one(s). No one should be subjected to this kind of agony.
If you are concerned about a family member with whom you have lost contact and you live outside the occupied territories, please contact your local National Red Cross/Red Crescent Society or an ICRC office closest to your residence and submit a tracing request. You can find a contact directory here.
If you are concerned about a family member with whom you have lost contact and you would like to contact us in Arabic, you can reach the ICRC by calling: 08 283 2400. Please note that power and network cuts do temporarily interrupt our ability to answer calls.
Did ICRC teams evacuate Gaza? Are local staff left behind?
ICRC teams were informed they needed to evacuate from the position they were in. Following security procedures, they were obliged to relocate within the Gaza Strip. The ICRC will continue at every level to advocate for humanitarian space and respect for IHL. We will continue to have teams on the ground and respond to needs wherever possible. They are working to the best of their capability in light of the rapidly evolving situation. The ICRC fully intends to remain in Gaza.
Why is it taking so long for you to contact me back and to find my family member?
We apologize for this. We depend on the information that the parties to the conflict share with us and the access they give us to places of detention. We are sorry that we cannot give you answers more quickly. Due to the high volume of requests, it may take us weeks to contact you back. We know how worried you are about your loved one and we thank you in advance for your understanding and patience.
Can you help me leave or evacuate someone from Gaza?
Unfortunately, we cannot help individuals or groups in leaving Gaza. Nor can we provide any support or money to transport people to the border of Egypt or to other countries. This is currently outside our capacity. We are aware of the fear and uncertainty you might be feeling in this difficult situation. We hope you can stay safe until the situation improves.
Can you help me get an asylum/humanitarian visa?
Unfortunately, we cannot help you get humanitarian visas or asylum. To ask for asylum, you should apply as soon as you arrive to the country of destination. This is directly processed by the country’s authorities.
What can I do when there is shelling/explosions?
If there is shelling, find a lower ground to hide. Stay as far as possible from the windows.
Lie down, wrap your arms around your head, and cover your ears.
Open your mouth to avoid internal injuries, it can reduce the impact of explosive waves on your body.
Wait until the shooting is over before you move to a safer shelter.
If you find strange metallic objects such as bullets and shells, please keep your distance and do not touch them. They can cause injury or even kill.
A family member has died, can you help me know where the body is and return it?
We are very sorry for your loss, and we hope you are getting the support you need in these difficult times.
The current situation is very complex. In other contexts, ICRC can sometimes act as a neutral intermediary to organize or support a transfer of human remains if requested and agreed by the parties to the conflict.
However, we are currently not able to support or organize the evacuation of the dead from the affected region. This would only be possible if security conditions allow, and authorities requested and agreed. With the current situation, ICRC cannot guarantee when or if this will become possible.
Can you provide (medical) support to my family member in Gaza?
We are aware of the dire medical/health situation in Gaza. We are sorry this is happening and you or your loved one needs medical attention. We have provided medical equipment to Civil Defense, EMS providers, the Ministry of Health and a hospital in Gaza. We are following the situation as best as we can.
Due to the current conditions, we are unfortunately not able to access people in Gaza to provide them with any type of specific medical support.
We can tell you we are pre-positioning life-saving supplies, including medicine and thousands of household kits for families which include hygiene items and chlorine tablets for drinking water, so that we’re ready when access to Gaza is granted, which it must urgently be.
We have health staff, including a mobile surgical team, a weapons contamination expert, and relief coordinators specialized in water and habitat and food security on standby.
Is there anything I can do to help the ICRC?
Right now, our teams are working around the clock to help those affected by the violence. If you want to show your support for the ICRC, please do not hesitate to use your voice and share with your community, whether in person or online, factual information about what the ICRC does.
We are transparent about what we do and our limitations. We exist to protect the lives and dignity of victims of armed conflict and other situations of violence and to provide them with assistance, and your support will help us to achieve that.
Source : Icrc
