UN agency warns of mass starvation in the region, urging for immediate humanitarian assistance.
Gaza's Children Face Severe Malnutrition Crisis, UN Reports
Gaza's Children Face Severe Malnutrition Crisis, UN Reports
UN highlights escalating hunger crisis in Gaza as one in five children affected.
One in five children in Gaza suffers from malnutrition, according to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA). The situation has reportedly worsened, with cases increasing daily, prompting urgent calls for action from over 100 international aid organizations and human rights groups. In a stark statement, UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini remarked on the dire conditions, claiming, "People in Gaza are neither dead nor alive; they are walking corpses."
Israel, which regulates all supplies entering Gaza, disputes claims of a siege and attributes the malnutrition crisis to Hamas. However, the UN has decried the limited humanitarian aid reaching Gaza, describing it as merely a "trickle." Lazzarini stated on Thursday that more than 100 individuals—predominantly children—have succumbed to hunger. "Most children our teams are seeing are emaciated, weak, and at high risk of dying if they don't get the treatment they urgently need," he said, calling for unrestricted humanitarian access.
World Health Organization (WHO) chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, emphasized the crisis as "man-made," cautioning that a significant portion of the Gazan population is "starving." Discontent is palpable, with aid workers and locals echoing sentiments of despair over skyrocketing food prices and insufficient supplies. Local resident Hanaa Almadhoun described the stark reality: "People have sold gold and personal belongings to afford basic food like flour."
Israel's President Isaac Herzog insisted during a recent visit to Israeli troops that the country is complying with international humanitarian aid standards. Nonetheless, reports from aid workers reveal a desperate fight for survival, highlighting that basic necessities, including cooking and bathing, have become unattainable luxuries.
Following a blockade initiated by Israel in early March, the humanitarian situation has deteriorated sharply. Although there was a temporary easing of the blockade two months later, critical shortages of food, fuel, and medical supplies persist. Amidst this turmoil, over 1,000 Palestinians have reportedly been killed attempting to secure food aid, leading to accountability disputes between Israeli forces and Hamas.
Witnesses, such as 19-year-old Najah, expressed fears about traveling to aid distribution points, saying they risk being shot. Dr. Aseel, affiliated with a UK charity, portrayed Gaza’s situation as effectively being at famine levels, stressing the dangers faced by residents trying to obtain aid: “If we are to die from hunger, let it be. The path to aid is the path to death.”
Local market seller Abu Alaa and expectant mother Walaa Fathi shared heart-wrenching testimonials of life in Gaza, pleading for international intervention to remedy their plight. As the region grapples with these unprecedented challenges, the call for immediate humanitarian assistance has never been more urgent.
Israel, which regulates all supplies entering Gaza, disputes claims of a siege and attributes the malnutrition crisis to Hamas. However, the UN has decried the limited humanitarian aid reaching Gaza, describing it as merely a "trickle." Lazzarini stated on Thursday that more than 100 individuals—predominantly children—have succumbed to hunger. "Most children our teams are seeing are emaciated, weak, and at high risk of dying if they don't get the treatment they urgently need," he said, calling for unrestricted humanitarian access.
World Health Organization (WHO) chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, emphasized the crisis as "man-made," cautioning that a significant portion of the Gazan population is "starving." Discontent is palpable, with aid workers and locals echoing sentiments of despair over skyrocketing food prices and insufficient supplies. Local resident Hanaa Almadhoun described the stark reality: "People have sold gold and personal belongings to afford basic food like flour."
Israel's President Isaac Herzog insisted during a recent visit to Israeli troops that the country is complying with international humanitarian aid standards. Nonetheless, reports from aid workers reveal a desperate fight for survival, highlighting that basic necessities, including cooking and bathing, have become unattainable luxuries.
Following a blockade initiated by Israel in early March, the humanitarian situation has deteriorated sharply. Although there was a temporary easing of the blockade two months later, critical shortages of food, fuel, and medical supplies persist. Amidst this turmoil, over 1,000 Palestinians have reportedly been killed attempting to secure food aid, leading to accountability disputes between Israeli forces and Hamas.
Witnesses, such as 19-year-old Najah, expressed fears about traveling to aid distribution points, saying they risk being shot. Dr. Aseel, affiliated with a UK charity, portrayed Gaza’s situation as effectively being at famine levels, stressing the dangers faced by residents trying to obtain aid: “If we are to die from hunger, let it be. The path to aid is the path to death.”
Local market seller Abu Alaa and expectant mother Walaa Fathi shared heart-wrenching testimonials of life in Gaza, pleading for international intervention to remedy their plight. As the region grapples with these unprecedented challenges, the call for immediate humanitarian assistance has never been more urgent.
