A charity says reports from inside Gaza tell of a desperate and dangerous situation.

Christian Aid was deeply concerned about the humanitarian emergency in the Gaza Strip even before the current wave of hostilities.

Israel’s 18-month blockade had already left Gazan hospitals desperately short of emergency medical supplies and spare parts for vital equipment.

Mr Abdalhadi Abu Khousa of the Palestinian Medical Relief Society (PMRS) told us PMRS are continuing to operate mobile health services, but are desperately short of medicine.

There are particular restrictions in the north of Gaza and around Rafah which means they can’t provide services directly there. Permits for operating in Beit Hanoun have been denied.

Dr Abdalhadi is worried about the coming days as movement restrictions and lack of supplies get worse. There is also the shortage of electricity and water to contend with.

They are able to work in the open area of Jabaylia, but where there are Israeli operations they are not even allowed to pick up injured people. It is impossible to send medications and other supplies between parts of the Strip as it has been divided into three by Israeli forces.

Within each area ambulances are still being used, despite every journey being a grave risk to the drivers.

He said: “It’s very difficult for first aiders to move from one place to another. It’s war. All the time, everyone is under fire in all of Gaza.

"First we need pressure from outside to stop the Israeli war. We follow the marches and demonstrations in other countries and that gives us some hope. When the war stops, we will be able to cope.’”

Mr Abu Khousa had to flee from his home after it was shelled, but he says he, like all of Gaza’s first-aiders, he “will continue to work and to help up the very last minute”.

Miri Weingarten of Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) -(a Christian Aid partner based in Jerusalem but operating on the ground in Gaza) said attacks on medical crews are making it extremely difficult to treat and evacuate the wounded.

After calling for international intervention for an immediate ceasefire, PHR-Israel today sent two urgent requests to the Israeli Military Chief of staff regarding protection of medical teams, internal evacuation of the wounded, and evacuation of the wounded to external medical care.

They have also logged the following incidents.

· December 31, 2008: Helicopter fires on medical crew evacuating wounded: in Jabal Kashif in northeast Gaza a crew set out to offer assistance. While approaching the bleeding victim on foot, they were hit by helicopter fire. Dr. Ihab Madhun, medic Muhammad Abu Hasireh, as well as the injured victim, were killed.

· January 3, 2009: Second attack on a house after medical crews enter to evacuate the wounded: The house of the Dabbabish family in Sheikh Radwan had already been bombarded. As a crew of medics dressed in medical vests arrived on the scene to tend to the wounded the house was bombarded for a second time. One person was critically wounded: Ayyad Ahmad.

· January 4, 2009: Ambulance belonging to the Al Awda Hospital in Beit Lahiya was hit by helicopter fire. Arfa Abd al Daim, a senior volunteer medic was killed and two other medical personnel were critically injured.

· January 4, 2009: Tank fires on ambulance during attempts to evacuate a family in Tel Alhawa. Inass Fadil Naim, Yassir Shabir and Rifaat Abdel Al were killed.

The Near Council Of Churches (NECC) run drop-in primary care clinics supported by Christian Aid.

During the crisis the clinics had been operating as emergency medical centres, but have had to suspend activities in the last 24 hours because staff can’t travel to work in safety and patients who need care can’t get to the health centres because they are situated in areas which have been evacuated due to Israeli operations.

NECC say if the security situation changed - if the fighting stopped - the clinics could operate and provide essential medical care straight away.

One NECC staff member, who is available for interview, but doesn’t wish to be named for fear of reprisal, said: “The weather is cold, and there has been no electricity for 3 days: 'All Gaza is dark'. No electricity, therefore no heating. It is the coldest time of year and after 4:30pm it is dark. It is frightening and it is not safe to walk outside.

Can you imagine 1.5 million people living in the dark and cold?”

“You have to wait three hours to buy bread at the ovens in the shops. There are queues of 700 people for bread. I can't remember a time like this. We are human beings- children and women are under the bombing; we don't have any defences. We are in a hopeless situation; we need anyone to help us. “ “My family had a permit to celebrate Christmas in Bethlehem. I had to return home on Friday so didn't make it to join my wife in the West Bank, and we are apart for Christmas and New Year for the first time ever. She is not able to join me now and I cannot leave Gaza, all because of the bombing.”

Ahmad Sourani, Gaza director of the Palestinian Agricultural Relief Committee (PARC) said: “Families are trapped in their houses. It is only possible to move outside in the dark; we expect an escalation in violence.

There are no services operating; PARC- like other NGOs- cannot work properly because we cannot move around. It is a very frightening and frustrating situation.

There has been no electricity for many days; the little food people have in fridges has gone bad.”

Whether Palestinians or Israelis, we are all suffering. For people who are suffering, it is normal to search for hope, it is not normal to suffer violence continually. “ Reem Al Naraib of the Women’s Affairs Centre (WAC) in north Gaza is six months pregnant. She had to leave her home after Israeli tanks began bombing the area.

In the rush to escape her family left behind all their possessions and ID cards.

They moved to another house in the middle of Gaza city but Reem says that Hamas have started firing rockets from this new area and she fears they will come under attack again. She or her other children haven’t had a drink of water in two days. She says her blood pressure is high and she has a constant headache caused by dehydration. She fears that she is going to loose her baby.

Her 9 year old son is vomiting with fear, and is dehydrated but she has no water to give him.