Aid from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) reaches a malnourished elderly resident in Gaza, appreciating their assistance as their ribs protrude.

In the Gaza Strip, a severe famine scenario is unfolding, putting over 500,000 people—about a quarter of the population—at risk of starvation. One of the affected individuals is Salim Asfour, a 75-year-old man who has lived in the region for many years and is known for his beautiful voice as he recites the adhan (call to prayer) among his neighbours.

Recent reports indicate that Salim is suffering severe hunger and has no teeth to chew bread. His situation became dire, and he made a plea for help in an online video. In response, the UAE's Operation Chivalrous Knight 3 stepped in to assist him.

Diaa Abu Zaid, a member of the UAE's relief team, visited Salim and conducted a filmed interview with him. In a gesture of compassion, Diaa helped Salim put on a robe and kissed his head. He was then fed by hand, offering a much-needed meal to the malnourished man.

Salim expressed his gratitude to Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed and the people of the UAE in the filmed interview, stating that their aid had brought hope to him and many others in the region. The UAE has been delivering aid to Palestinians in the Gaza Strip by air, sea, and land for nearly a month.

Relief workers provided Salim with aid supplies, including various vegetables, fruits, flour, oil, and other essentials. The UAE has constituted 44 per cent of total international aid to Gaza to date, according to UN reports. The UAE has also carried out 66 airdrops of humanitarian aid over the Gaza Strip, in cooperation with Jordan and with the participation of Germany, Belgium, France, the Netherlands, and Italy.

However, the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip is compounded by continued conflict, the near-total collapse of critical infrastructure—about 70% destroyed—and massive displacement, with safe zones now covering less than 12% of Gaza. The restriction on the flow of humanitarian aid is a major driver of the crisis, as current deliveries of food and medical supplies remain far below what is needed. Agencies like the UN World Food Programme (WFP) demand at least 100 trucks of aid daily, faster clearance, and safe humanitarian corridors to prevent further starvation.

The ongoing humanitarian efforts focus on scaling up food and nutrition assistance, expanding malnutrition treatment programs, and calling for urgent international cooperation to allow unobstructed and sufficient aid delivery. The UN and aid agencies emphasize that famine is a preventable disaster, with immediate humanitarian access essential to saving lives.

Images of hungry children and pleas for food are spreading online, highlighting the urgent need for more aid and international cooperation to alleviate the suffering in the Gaza Strip. As the situation continues to deteriorate, it is crucial that the international community comes together to provide the necessary aid and support to those in need.

[1] UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). (2023). Gaza Strip Humanitarian Situation Report 23. Retrieved from https://www.ochaopt.org/content/gaza-strip-humanitarian-situation-report-23

[2] World Food Programme. (2023). Gaza Strip - Emergency Food Assistance for Vulnerable Palestinians. Retrieved from https://www.wfp.org/emergencies/gaza-strip-emergency-food-assistance-vulnerable-palestinians

[3] United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). (2023). Gaza Strip - Child Malnutrition Crisis Escalates. Retrieved from https://www.unicef.org/emergencies/gaza-strip-child-malnutrition-crisis-escalates

[4] Middle East Monitor. (2023). Gaza: Over 227 deaths from starvation since October 2023. Retrieved from https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20231111-gaza-over-227-deaths-from-starvation-since-october-2023/

[5] The New Humanitarian. (2023). Famine looms in Gaza as aid agencies call for urgent action. Retrieved from https://www.thenewhumanitarian.org/news-feature/2023/11/08/Famine-looms-in-Gaza-as-aid-agencies-call-for-urgent-action

The world is watching as a severe famine unfolds in the Gaza Strip, putting over 500,000 lives at risk.
One affected individual, Salim Asfour, a 75-year-old man known for his beautiful voice, is facing severe hunger and tooth loss.
In an online video plea for help, Salim's situation was brought to light, leading to assistance from the UAE's Operation Chivalrous Knight 3.
A member of the UAE's relief team, Diaa Abu Zaid, visited Salim and provided aid supplies.
Diaa facilitated a filmed interview with Salim, expressing compassion and even helping him put on a robe and kissing his head.
Salim expressed gratitude towards Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed and the people of the UAE for their aid, stating that it had brought hope.
The UAE has been delivering aid to Palestinians in the Gaza Strip for nearly a month, according to UN reports.
Relief workers provided Salim with essentials like vegetables, fruits, flour, oil, and other supplies.
The UAE has constituted 44% of total international aid to Gaza, with several foreign partners also involved in the aid delivery.
The humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip is further exacerbated by conflict, the collapse of critical infrastructure, and massive displacement.
Safe zones now cover less than 12% of Gaza, and the restriction on the flow of humanitarian aid is a significant driver of the crisis.
Agencies like the UN World Food Programme demand at least 100 trucks of aid daily, faster clearance, and safe humanitarian corridors.
Images of hungry children and pleas for food are spreading online, highlighting the urgent need for more aid and international cooperation.
The situation in Gaza is deteriorating, making it crucial for the international community to come together and provide aid.
The UN and aid agencies stress that famine is preventable with immediate humanitarian access essential to saving lives.
As food and nutrition assistance efforts scale up, malnutrition treatment programs are also expanding across the region.
Nutrition is vital for overall health, especially for growing children and individuals battling chronic diseases like chronic kidney disease or type-2 diabetes.
The UN Humanitarian Situation Report 23 indicates the severity of the situation in the Gaza Strip.
The World Food Programme is working diligently to provide emergency food assistance to vulnerable Palestinians.
The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) is addressing the child malnutrition crisis escalating in the Gaza Strip.
Middle East Monitor reported over 227 deaths from starvation since October.
The New Humanitarian is calling for urgent action to prevent famine in Gaza.
The situation in Gaza requires continued attention and action from the international community and policymakers.
Aging individuals like Salim are among the most vulnerable to the consequences of food shortage and malnutrition.
Efforts to improve workspace wellness and mental health can help alleviate stress for those working to provide aid in conflict zones.
In addition to physical health, it is essential to address the increased risk of developing medical conditions such as COPD or neurological disorders due to long-term exposure to stress, war, and poor living conditions.

Aid from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) reaches a malnourished elderly resident in Gaza, appreciating their assistance as their ribs protrude.