At least 576,000 people in Gaza facing serious threat of impending famine compounded by lack of medical services
United Nations officials have accused Israel of systematically blocking aid from reaching desperate Palestinians in Gaza, warning that a quarter of the enclave’s population is on the verge of famine. Meanwhile, the Last functioning hospital in northern Gaza faces closure amid fuel shortage.
More details in the following report:
Ramesh Rajasingham, the deputy chief of the UN humanitarian agency (OCHA), stated, “Here we are, at the end of February, with at least 576,000 people in Gaza – one-quarter of the population – one step away from famine.”
The conflict, now in its fifth month, has resulted in significant casualties, with at least 29,878 Palestinians killed, most of them women and children.
Jens Laerke, an OCHA spokesman, highlighted the challenges faced by aid convoys, stating that “Aid convoys have come under fire and are systematically denied access to people in need.”
The World Food Programme (WFP) expressed readiness to expand operations once a ceasefire is in place. However, Carl Skau, the WFP’s deputy executive director, warned that “the risk of famine is being fuelled by the inability to bring critical food supplies into Gaza in sufficient quantities.” Aid deliveries to northern Gaza have been suspended due to attacks and looting by desperate residents.
The situation in Gaza remains critical, with Palestinians facing increasing dangers as they search for food amidst the ongoing conflict and restrictions imposed by Israeli authorities.
International intervention is essential to address the humanitarian crisis and ensure the delivery of vital aid to the vulnerable population in the region.
In the meantime, the only functioning hospital in the northern Gaza Strip is at risk of halting operations amid a fuel shortage, according to its director on Wednesday.
Several patients, including 4 children, died at Kamal Adwan Hospital due to lack of food, medicine, fuel, Hossam Abu Safiya confirmed.
“Thousands will be deprived of medical service if the hospital stopped,” he warned.
Israel has launched a deadly offensive on the Gaza Strip following a Hamas attack on Oct. 7. The ensuing Israeli bombardment has killed 29,954 and injured over 70,000 with mass destruction and shortages of necessities.
The Israeli war has pushed 85% of Gaza’s population into internal displacement amid acute shortages of food, clean water, and medicine, while 60% of the enclave’s infrastructure has been damaged or destroyed, according to the UN.
Israel stands accused of genocide at the International Court of Justice. An interim ruling in January ordered Tel Aviv to stop genocidal acts and take measures to guarantee that humanitarian assistance is provided to civilians in Gaza.
