Pressure is mounting on the New Zealand Government to provide aid money to assist with the worsening situation in Gaza.
The aid agency for Palestinian refugees says it urgently needs nearly $70 million to continue helping internally displaced people in Gaza.
A Palestinian man carries boxes of goods received at an aid distribution centre of the UN's Relief and Works Agency in Gaza City. Photo: AFP
David Shearer says aid is desperately needed. Photo: RNZ
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency has launched the emergency appeal as violence in Gaza continues.
The agency operates shelters for Palestinian refugees in Gaza . Scott Anderson, its deputy director of operations at the Gaza field office, said the number of displaced people in its shelters had risen from 23,000 to 101,000 in the five days to Monday.
People were leaving because of the intensity of the shelling and an increase in ground incursions by the Israeli military, he told Radio New Zealand's Nine to Noon programme.
"That ... has led people to flee their homes either for fear of being caught in the fire or because their homes have actually been destroyed or damaged and they're no longer liveable."
The agency says money raised in the appeal will provide food, shelter and medical supplies.
NZ urged to contribute
The Green Party's foreign affairs spokesperson, Kennedy Graham, says the New Zealand Government must contribute to show the people of Gaza that it cares about its plight.
Labour's Foreign Affairs spokesperson David Shearer agrees, saying it would show that New Zealand is committed to meeting the humanitarian needs of the Palestinians who have been hit incredibly hard by the latest operation by Israel.
Mr Shearer says New Zealand does give money on an annual basis to the UN Relief and Works Agency, and in this case when it desperately needs it it is the right thing to do to respond.
Ceasefire 'not enough'
John Key says the Government is monitoring the situation. Photo: RNZ / Diego Opatowski
The New Zealand Government has called for a ceasefire, but Kennedy Graham says that's not enough and it should be more assertive and critical - particularly of Israel.
Mr Graham says it should get the Israeli ambassador in to call for an immediate end to Israel's ground offensive in Gaza.
Prime Minister John Key said the Government is deeply concerned about the conflict in Gaza - particularly the escalation of violence. He said it continues to monitor the situation and would consider providing aid.
David Shearer said the only way the conflict is going to end is through a ceasefire, most likely brokered by Egypt.
However, he said then the longer term issues need to be talked about, as the Palestinians have been virtually locked up inside the Gaza strip for the past eight years with all food and electricity being rationed.
Mr Shearer said that is simply untenable, so it is critical to move past a ceasefire to look at long term solutions.
Thousands of families have left their homes as the assault on Gaza continues. Photo: AFP
