Over 100 international aid groups have raised alarms about mass starvation in Gaza, reporting acute malnutrition and a humanitarian disaster while Israeli officials dismiss their concerns as propaganda.
Urgent Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza: Starvation Threatens Lives Amid Ongoing Conflict
Urgent Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza: Starvation Threatens Lives Amid Ongoing Conflict
Humanitarian organizations warn of mass starvation in Gaza as aid has dwindled, urging global intervention to alleviate the plight of the besieged population.
More than 100 international aid organizations and human rights groups have voiced urgent warnings about mass starvation in Gaza, pressing governments worldwide to take action. Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), Oxfam, and Save the Children joined together in a concerning statement, reporting that their staff and the people they aid are "wasting away." In response, Israeli officials dismissed the claims, accusing the organizations of perpetuating propaganda for Hamas.
The dire situation escalated with the Hamas-run health ministry reporting 10 more deaths due to malnutrition in the last 24 hours, bringing the total to 43 since Sunday. The United Nations has noted an alarming increase in hospital admissions due to severe exhaustion from food deprivation, with alarming reports of individuals collapsing on the streets from hunger.
The humanitarian organizations reiterated that Israeli government policies are effectively starving the people of Gaza, putting aid workers at risk as they struggle alongside the local population to secure food. They revealed that humanitarian supplies have been nearly exhausted, informing that aid workers are witnessing their colleagues suffer from malnutrition firsthand.
After a total blockade was imposed on Gaza in March, which was later partially lifted, the struggle for basic necessities intensified. Reports indicate soaring prices of essential goods, with local residents stating the cost of flour alone is prohibitively high, making it nearly impossible for families to buy food.
UN assessments reveal that about a quarter of Gaza’s population faces famine-like conditions, with approximately 100,000 women and children suffering from severe acute malnutrition. Medical personnel report an increase in illnesses stemming from food shortage, such as acute watery diarrhea, leading to a public health crisis.
The organizations stressed that nearly all of Gaza's inhabitants have been displaced and now remain confined to areas not under military evacuation orders, significantly complicating relief efforts. Only 28 truckloads of aid can be distributed daily, while crucial supplies sit idle in nearby warehouses, awaiting delivery clearance barred by bureaucratic obstacles.
Israeli authorities maintain that they comply with international law and claim to facilitate aid entry while ensuring it does not reach Hamas. However, they also acknowledge a significant reduction in the supply flow, attributing the issues to UN agency inefficiencies. The UN has claimed that obtaining necessary clearance to collect and distribute incoming supplies remains problematic and fraught with danger for civilians.
Despite ongoing violence, the humanitarian organizations are calling on international governments to demand an immediate ceasefire and lift restrictions that impede aid delivery. They urge a reversion to an unbiased, UN-led humanitarian response to alleviate the catastrophic conditions faced by civilians in Gaza.
In stark contrast, Israeli officials label these concerns as aligning with Hamas narratives, suggesting that such statements undermine prospects for renewed ceasefire discussions amid the hostilities ignited after the October 7, 2023, attacks which resulted in significant loss of life and hostages. The humanitarian crisis in Gaza continues to evolve, leaving countless lives hanging in the balance amid the chaos of conflict and war.
