Vital supplies have been sent to Gaza from Oxfam’s Bicester supply centre now that the truce is over.

A five-tonne shipment of water and sanitation equipment left the charity’s Bicester warehouse on Monday (December 4), set to be flown to the war-torn territory from Brussels on Thursday (December 7).

It is claimed the shipment will be able to provide life-saving support for approximately 60,000 people in Gaza.

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A spokesperson for Oxfam said: “We don’t know how much time it will take to get into Gaza, it all depends on the situation on the border.

“We hope that this is as fast and as smooth as possible to reach people desperately needing aid.

“While it is impossible to mount the full-scale humanitarian response that is desperately needed in Gaza, small quantities of aid are allowed to enter most days and we hope that this equipment will be included very soon.

“Oxfam is calling for an immediate, permanent ceasefire and for full humanitarian access now.”

The shipment contains water and sanitation equipment, comprising bladder water tanks, tap stands, water test kits, collapsible jerry cans and commodes.

The water bladders are collapsible water tanks that can be easily set up at a community level.

They are expected to provide 15 litres of water for domestic and personal hygiene purposes for over 10,000 people a day.

The spokesperson added: “The jerry cans are foldable and can be used to fill drinking water. People can fold these and pack with their belongings easily should they need to move.

“They are expected to provide 28,000 people with three litres of clean drinking water a day.

“The handwashing stations are an Oxfam innovation, they are standalone stations equipped with water tanks and soap dispensers, easily set up and weather resistant.

“These will be able to provide support to over 20,000 people.

“The water testing equipment is to set up two laboratories in the south and those are expected to provide services to all water providers in the south.

“The equipment can test for harmful bacteria and check water has been sufficiently chlorinated to safeguard against public health risks.”

There are also provisions being sent to Gaza to assist citizens with special needs.

The commodes are expected to provide 200 persons living with special needs access to toilets, as these can be used at home.

And the bedpans are expected to provide 200 additional persons with special needs, who are bedridden.

War broke out between Israel and Hamas following an attack by the terrorist group on a music festival in the Negev Desert, in southern Israel.

 

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This story was written by Matthew Norman, he joined the team in 2022 as a Facebook community reporter.

Matthew covers Bicester and focuses on finding stories from diverse communities.

Get in touch with him by emailing: Matthew.norman@newsquest.co.uk

Follow him on Twitter: @OxMailMattN1