Key Points
- The Japan International Volunteer Center (JVC) reports that Gaza is facing an unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe with severe shortages of food, water, and medical supplies.
- Local staff members are living in constant fear of bombardment while struggling to provide aid amidst multiple forced displacements and a total blockade.
- Communication with the region remains extremely unstable, making it difficult to coordinate relief efforts and confirm the safety of residents on a daily basis.
- JVC emphasizes that the international community must take immediate action to secure a permanent ceasefire and allow for the unhindered entry of humanitarian aid.
Full Transcript (English)
Host (Jun Hori): Hello everyone. This is 8bitNews. Today, we are joined by Mai Namiki from the Japan International Volunteer Center (JVC), an NGO that has been working in Palestine for many years. Namiki-san, thank you for being here. Please tell us about the current situation in Gaza as you hear it from your team.
Guest (Mai Namiki): Thank you for having me. To put it simply, the situation in Gaza right now is “hell on earth.” Since the escalation in October, the intensity of the attacks and the scale of the blockade have reached levels we have never seen before. Our local staff members, who are usually the ones providing aid to others, are now victims themselves. They are fleeing from one place to another with their families, carrying only what they can hold.
Host: We hear that even the most basic necessities for survival are almost non-existent. What specific details are you hearing from your staff on the ground regarding their daily lives?
Guest: The lack of food and clean water is critical. People are lining up for hours just for a small piece of bread or a few liters of water that may not even be safe to drink. Because of the fuel shortage, hospitals cannot function, and many people are dying from injuries or illnesses that would normally be treatable. One of our staff members told us that the psychological toll is immense; they feel the world has abandoned them and is simply watching them die.
Host: It is truly heartbreaking. Under these extreme conditions, what kind of activities is JVC actually able to carry out?
Guest: It is incredibly difficult, but we are doing everything possible. We work with local partners to distribute whatever supplies can be procured within Gaza, such as food baskets and hygiene kits. However, the “safe zones” designated by the military are not actually safe. Bombings continue everywhere. This is why we are calling so strongly for an immediate and permanent ceasefire. Humanitarian aid cannot be effectively delivered while the bombs are still falling.
Host: For those watching this in Japan and elsewhere, what can we do to support your efforts and the people of Gaza?
Guest: First and foremost, please do not look away. The people in Gaza are terrified that the world will grow tired of the news and forget them. Keep talking about Gaza, share the information, and join the calls for a ceasefire. Additionally, donations to NGOs like JVC allow us to continue our advocacy and provide immediate relief the moment we have a window of safety. Your voice matters in putting pressure on the international community to uphold human rights.
Host: Thank you, Namiki-san. We will continue to share these voices and follow the situation closely. Thank you for your vital work.
Guest: Thank you very much.
