Struggling survivors left without food aid
The Gaza Strip continues to grapple with a severe humanitarian crisis, marked by widespread casualties, displacement, and critical shortages of food and medical aid. Since October 2023, over 58,000 Palestinians have reportedly been killed and more than 139,000 injured, according to Gaza's Health Ministry and UN reports.
Food distribution and starvation concerns
The ongoing blockade, lasting over 80 days, has caused a dire food crisis in Gaza. Aid entry, including food, medicine, and fuel, has been severely restricted. As a result, malnutrition-related deaths have been reported, including among children. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) recently announced aid airdrops, but the scale remains limited compared to the needs.
Access to medical aid
Medical facilities and hospitals in Gaza have suffered extensive damage or closure due to the conflict. Aid organizations report that health and malnutrition stabilization centres are overcrowded and have extremely limited capacity. Continuing hostilities and attacks near aid distribution points have further hindered the delivery and operation of humanitarian assistance.
International response and calls for ceasefire
The UN human rights office has criticized the Israeli military for actions putting civilians at grave risk and questioned compliance with international humanitarian law. Over 28 countries, including France and the UK, have formally called for a ceasefire or cessation of military action in Gaza to allow humanitarian relief and reduce civilian suffering. While humanitarian corridors have begun to open, the situation remains precarious with ongoing hostilities limiting aid access.
Calls for action
Save the Children, along with over 100 NGOs, is calling for the opening of all land crossings and the restoration of full supplies of food, clean water, medicine, and medical equipment. They are urging the international community to take immediate action to alleviate the suffering of the people in Gaza. Psychosocial support workers report that children in Gaza are expressing a desire to go to heaven because of food scarcity.
The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, under Israeli control, has been operating for two months, but its capacity is yet to significantly address the crisis. The situation in Gaza continues to cause starvation among civilians, and without immediate and sustained aid, more people are dying from preventable diseases. The starvation of civilians is considered a war crime.
References: [1] UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) [2] United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) [3] The New York Times [4] BBC News
- The lack of nutrition in Gaza is causing malnutrition-related deaths, particularly among children, due to the severe restriction of aid entry, including food supplies.
- International organizations have criticized the Israeli military for actions putting civilians at risk and questioned compliance with international law, while over 28 countries have called for a ceasefire to allow humanitarian aid.
- Save the Children and over 100 NGOs are urging the international community to take immediate action to alleviate the suffering of the people in Gaza and to open all land crossings for the full supply of food, clean water, medicine, and medical equipment.
- Psychosocial support workers in Gaza report that children are expressing a desire to go to heaven because of food scarcity, indicating the mental health impacts of the ongoing crisis.
