“We are very concerned for our staff, says Secretary General of Norwegian People’s Aid (NPA), Liv Tørres, after Israel invaded Gaza with ground troops.
18.07.2014 | Torunn Aaslund
“Although we are working to find safe shelter for our employees the reality is that there are no safe places in Gaza. People have nowhere to flee and civilians are hit hard. 76% of all fatalities are civilians and we strongly urge both sides of the conflict to adhere to international law, under which they are obliged to protect civilians,” says Tørres.
Country Director for NPA Palestine, Jenny Oskarsson, is currently in Jerusalem and keeps in close contact with colleagues in Gaza.
“I check with them daily that they are ok,” she says and adds that the programme has eight local employees, three women and five men. All staff have family and children.
“The nights are the worst. Attacks increase during the night, especially between four and seven in the morning,” she says.
“Last night, when the attacks increased in preparation for the ground incursion, that “they have gone crazy”. They said they are scared,” said Oskarsson.
“Some of our colleagues have moved out of their homes and in with their relatives. Another tells us that her windows are shattered after the neighbouring house was bombed. We are obviously worried and do what we can to safeguard them,” said Tørres.