Int’l labor group vows aid to communities affected by war

“The ILO stands ready to continue working with other UN agencies, the international community, and our partners to assist and support the impacted communities, within the terms of our mandate,” he said in a press release. (Photo By © ILO photo – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0)

MANILA – The International Labor Organization (ILO) has pledged to provide assistance to communities affected by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

ILO Director-General Gilbert Houngbo said Saturday the group is working with other international organizations to help people affected by the escalation of hostilities between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.

“The ILO stands ready to continue working with other UN agencies, the international community, and our partners to assist and support the impacted communities, within the terms of our mandate,” he said in a press release.

The ILO is currently providing emergency assistance to Palestinian workers who are facing dire living conditions and is working to put in place a program focusing on social protection, skills, jobs, and small business recovery.

Houngbo said they are particularly concerned about the situation of at least 20,000 Gazan daily workers in Israel.

At the same time, he expressed strong disapproval of the unprecedented attacks by Hamas against Israel on Oct.

7, which resulted in more than 1,400 deaths and at least 200 abductions of Israeli and international civilians.

He also denounced the deaths of thousands of civilians in Gaza, including UN staff, as a consequence of Israeli military action in response to these attacks.

“The hostilities have resulted in – and continue to cause – not only tragic loss of human life, but also an unprecedented loss of livelihoods, jobs, income, businesses, and civilian infrastructure, with a devastating impact on labor markets in Gaza, the West Bank, and Israel,” the ILO official added.

More than 7,000 people have been killed, including children, in the armed conflict between the Palestinian militant group Hamas and Israel military forces since Oct. 7.