February 2010 video conference
February 2010: Our first videoconference with Gaza
This February has marked a milestone in The Humanitarian Forum's relationship with Gaza. After our work with local organisations over the course of last year, we realised that there was a need amongst Gaza's local humanitarian actors to be both seen and heard, in order to bring them into the global debate. In particular, we were seeking to give local actors an outlet to fully participate in the discussion of Gaza's needs.
And so on the 15th February, we brought together organizations in Gaza, Qatar and London, as well as from the international community, for a two hour discussion on Gaza's changing needs. It was a unique opportunity to enable the voices from Gaza to be heard from behind the blockade - and more importantly, for faces to be seen.
The conference was well represented on all sides, bringing together international players such as Oxfam, Islamic Relief, Crisis Action, Qatar Charity and UN OCHA with Local humanitarian organizations, including representatives from PNGO, Al Dameer for Human Rights, Palestinian Medical Relief Society, The Council for Women's Affairs and the Centre for Democracy and Labour Rights, who updated us on the situation in Gaza.
They explained that there are still severe restrictions on imports and exports of produce and materials. There has been considerable damage to Gaza's infrastructure, and the issues with unemployment are ongoing - especially for young people. Participants also spoke of the need for closer partnerships between international and local NGOs - and the need for the full inclusion of local NGOs in humanitarian discussions.
UNOCHA and Oxfam provided the information from the international actors' perspective, and Qatar representatives (from Qatar Charity and Qatar Red Crescent) added another valuable viewpoint, and expressed how highly they valued the information from the organisations within Gaza.
We were delighted by the success of the conference, and will continue to look for ways to enhance communications between Gaza and the wider world. Over the course of 2010, the Humanitarian Forum will be working to find better and more effective technological solutions to link actors across the globe. One of the simplest solutions we offer is our online discussion boards, which allow 24/7 access and discussion on any humanitarian issue. They are easy to sign up to and are a great way to continue discussion and information sharing.
Read the outcomes of the Gaza videoconference
