<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"?> <docID>330314</docID> <postdate>2024-10-05 10:50:30</postdate> <headline>Business cannot ‘sit on hands’ as Gaza aid needs remain</headline> <body><p><img class="size-full wp-image-330315" src="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20240407001928446449-original-resized.jpg" alt="" width="900" height="600" /></p> <caption>Australian business and political leaders are being implored to boost humanitarian aid to Gaza. (AP PHOTO)</caption> <p><span class="kicker-line">By <strong>Kat Wong</strong> and <strong>Sam McKeith</strong></span></p> <p><strong>Aid for Gaza cannot stop just because a new frontline has opened in Lebanon, and one of Australia's mining magnates is urging business, philanthropy and political leaders to do more to help save lives. </strong></p> <p>Fortescue Metals chairman Andrew "Twiggy" Forrest has committed more than $18 million to delivering food, and addressing water scarcity and inadequate sanitation in Gaza through his not-for-profit Minderoo Foundation.</p> <p>This latest announcement almost doubles the organisation's total contribution to Gaza's humanitarian aid as the violence in the Middle East intensifies.</p> <p>"Minderoo Foundation will not sit on its hands while children starve to death," Dr Forrest said.</p> <p>"We want to see the philanthropic and private sector respond more strongly to the humanitarian needs in Gaza."</p> <p>Dr Forrest has been speaking from the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, calling for more organisations to work in humanitarian partnership with Palestinians.</p> <p>About $7 million of his foundation's funding will be earmarked for the United Nation's World Food Program.</p> <p>Another $7 million will support the World Central Kitchen, an organisation whose aid workers, including Australian Zomi Frankcom, have been killed by Israeli airstrikes while delivering assistance.</p> <p>A total of $3.6 million will go to the Palestinian Water Authority, UNICEF and other local partners to help deliver water and sanitation infrastructure.</p> <p>"The humanitarian needs are huge and will continue once there is a ceasefire, but we need an immediate and permanent ceasefire," Dr Forrest said.</p> <p>It has been almost a year since a decades-long conflict in the Middle East reignited.</p> <p>On October 7, 2023, militant groups including Hamas - designated a terrorist organisation by the Australian government - attacked Israel, killing 1200 people and taking another 250 hostage, according to the Israeli government.</p> <p>In response, Israel unleashed a bombing campaign and ground invasion on Gaza, killing almost 42,000 people, displacing 1.9 million and leaving nearly 500,000 to face catastrophic levels of food insecurity, local health ministry sources report.</p> <p>"It is heartbreaking to see the suffering of civilians in Gaza, especially children, who suffer disproportionately as innocent victims of conflict," Minderoo Foundation co-founder Nicola Forrest said.</p> <p>Israel has since expanded its military campaign to Lebanon, trading cross-border fire before invading the nation on Tuesday.</p> <p>In less than two weeks, Israel's bombs have killed more than 1000 people in Lebanon and left more than one million without homes.</p> <p>Night-time vigils to commemorate the October 7 attack will be held on Monday in Sydney's east and at an undisclosed location in Melbourne, where Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is expected to attend.</p> <p>Australian Jewish leaders said no community events were planned for Saturday or Sunday.</p> <p>https://citynews.com.au/2024/communities-grapple-with-identity-a-year-after-october-7/</p> </body>