The Minister for Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, José Manuel Albares, has called for the immediate entry of large-scale humanitarian aid into Gaza and reiterated Spain’s commitment to emergency support through the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID), that “will be there from the very first moment it becomes possible to enter through the land crossings, which should already be open.”
At the conclusion of the meeting of European and Arab Foreign ministers held in Paris yesterday, Thursday 9 October, to discuss the United States peace plan, the minister stressed that “the urgent priority is to secure a lasting ceasefire that will lead to the unconditional release of all hostages, the release of Palestinian detainees, and the massive entry of humanitarian aid to end the induced famine in Gaza”.
He stated that Spain plays and will continue to play a key role, not only through its leadership in the new wave of recognition of the Palestinian State and financial support to the Palestinian Authority to implement the two-State solution, but also by addressing the humanitarian situation, through funding for UNRWA and the ongoing assistance provided by Spanish Cooperation.
Rural women against hunger
AECID supports the local response across the various districts of Gaza to help mitigate the impact of the humanitarian crisis, working through local organisations such as the Rural Women’s Development Society (RWDS), which continues to carry out interventions to meet basic needs and provide psychosocial support spaces for those most affected.
One of the most notable initiatives by the rural women’s organisation RWDS has been the establishment of 11 family allotments under the motto “Plant Your Home, Strengthen Your Resilience”, which has enabled families to grow their own food amid a context of widespread shortages.
Another key action supported by AECID has been the distribution of fresh vegetable baskets — including tomatoes, courgettes, or green peppers — to 150 families (around 900 people), ensuring their access to food during periods of greatest scarcity. Similarly, in July, at the height of the food crisis, RWDS launched the initiative “Feed the Hungry”, distributing 230 kilograms of flour among 46 vulnerable families, ensuring their sustenance for one week.
Psychosocial support in Gaza
In the Gazan municipality of Al-Zawaida, RWDS has also created a safe space for women and girls, designed with input from the community and built using local caravans to ensure privacy and security. To date, 31 group sessions and 117 individual psychosocial support sessions have been conducted, alongside six recreational events for children. In total, more than 800 women and 46 children have received direct support, while a further 5,000 people have benefited indirectly.
Through this collaboration, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, via AECID, reaffirms its support for initiatives that, on the ground, promote the dignity, resilience and hope of the people of Gaza, in a context marked by the destruction of infrastructure, shortages of essential supplies, and ongoing insecurity. These interventions reflect the commitment of Spanish Cooperation to local organisations that, in emergency contexts, serve as essential support networks for the population. As noted by the RWDS team, “each activity, each allotment, each bag of flour is an affirmation of life, a form of resistance in the face of collapse”.
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