The United Nations reveals that one in five children in Gaza is malnourished, a crisis worsened by restricted aid and ongoing conflict, with international organizations calling for urgent humanitarian intervention.**
Dire Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza: One in Five Children Malnourished**
Dire Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza: One in Five Children Malnourished**
The UN reports alarming malnutrition rates among children in Gaza as aid access remains severely restricted.**
Gaza is facing a catastrophic humanitarian crisis, with the United Nations (UN) reporting that one in five children in the territory is malnourished. The UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) describes the situation as the most dire it has ever been, emphasizing the need for immediate international intervention.
UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini shared troubling remarks from his colleagues, stating, "People in Gaza are neither dead nor alive; they are walking corpses." The UN's statement highlighted that more than 100 international aid groups and human rights organizations are sounding the alarm about mass starvation and calling for swift action from governments worldwide.
While Israel controls all entry points for supplies into Gaza, it disputes claims of a siege, attributing the rise in malnutrition to Hamas. Nevertheless, the UN warns that the flow of aid into Gaza is dramatically limited, describing it as a "trickle," and has reported that "more than 100 people, primarily children, have died from hunger."
The World Health Organization (WHO) further emphasized the gravity of the situation, stating that a significant portion of Gaza's population is "starving," deeming it a man-made disaster. Local aid worker Tahani Shehada described the absence of food and the desperate situations families find themselves in, with some selling personal possessions to afford basic staples like flour.
Adding to the despair, residents in northern Gaza report empty markets and exorbitant prices for scarce goods. One local mother lamented, "Every new day brings a new challenge," as families scavenge for food. Despite assertions from Israeli President Isaac Herzog that his country complies with international humanitarian law, accounts from aid workers paint a drastically different reality.
The blockade, which has significantly restricted food, fuel, and medicine, worsened with the cessation of aid deliveries earlier in the year, though the situation was temporarily alleviated. The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) was formed by Israel and the US to manage the aid system, yet the UN human rights office asserts that many Palestinians have lost their lives trying to access food aid during tense confrontations near distribution points.
The GHF contends that figures provided by Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry are erroneous. Meanwhile, accounts from individuals like 19-year-old Najah, who fears for her safety while seeking aid, underscore the dire circumstances faced by those in Gaza. Medical professionals operating in the region describe the situation as a chronic famine, where even basic needs like cooking and hygiene have become luxuries.
Voices of desperation come from residents like Abu Alaa, a market seller, who proclaimed, "We are not alive. We are dead. We are pleading with the whole world to intervene and save us." Pregnant women like Walaa Fathi express concern for the future of their children under these catastrophic conditions. The ongoing conflict and humanitarian crisis in Gaza highlight a dire need for global awareness and action to save lives in the region.
UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini shared troubling remarks from his colleagues, stating, "People in Gaza are neither dead nor alive; they are walking corpses." The UN's statement highlighted that more than 100 international aid groups and human rights organizations are sounding the alarm about mass starvation and calling for swift action from governments worldwide.
While Israel controls all entry points for supplies into Gaza, it disputes claims of a siege, attributing the rise in malnutrition to Hamas. Nevertheless, the UN warns that the flow of aid into Gaza is dramatically limited, describing it as a "trickle," and has reported that "more than 100 people, primarily children, have died from hunger."
The World Health Organization (WHO) further emphasized the gravity of the situation, stating that a significant portion of Gaza's population is "starving," deeming it a man-made disaster. Local aid worker Tahani Shehada described the absence of food and the desperate situations families find themselves in, with some selling personal possessions to afford basic staples like flour.
Adding to the despair, residents in northern Gaza report empty markets and exorbitant prices for scarce goods. One local mother lamented, "Every new day brings a new challenge," as families scavenge for food. Despite assertions from Israeli President Isaac Herzog that his country complies with international humanitarian law, accounts from aid workers paint a drastically different reality.
The blockade, which has significantly restricted food, fuel, and medicine, worsened with the cessation of aid deliveries earlier in the year, though the situation was temporarily alleviated. The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) was formed by Israel and the US to manage the aid system, yet the UN human rights office asserts that many Palestinians have lost their lives trying to access food aid during tense confrontations near distribution points.
The GHF contends that figures provided by Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry are erroneous. Meanwhile, accounts from individuals like 19-year-old Najah, who fears for her safety while seeking aid, underscore the dire circumstances faced by those in Gaza. Medical professionals operating in the region describe the situation as a chronic famine, where even basic needs like cooking and hygiene have become luxuries.
Voices of desperation come from residents like Abu Alaa, a market seller, who proclaimed, "We are not alive. We are dead. We are pleading with the whole world to intervene and save us." Pregnant women like Walaa Fathi express concern for the future of their children under these catastrophic conditions. The ongoing conflict and humanitarian crisis in Gaza highlight a dire need for global awareness and action to save lives in the region.
