Danger of lethal hunger looms over Gaza, as per WHO's warning
The Gaza Strip is currently grappling with a deadly hunger crisis, as reported by various humanitarian organizations. This dire situation is the result of a multitude of factors, including blockade and restricted access, ongoing conflict, political disputes, logistical challenges, and escalating malnutrition rates.
Israel, which controls Gaza’s borders, has limited the entry of food, fuel, and medical supplies, citing security concerns related to Hamas. This blockade has created severe bottlenecks for humanitarian aid reaching the population, leading to a critical shortage of essential supplies.
Continuous hostilities and military operations further disrupt supply routes and aid convoys. Incidents such as attacks during aid delivery worsen the situation and cause delays or suspension of aid efforts.
Political disputes over aid control also complicate matters. Israeli authorities deny limiting aid amounts, accusing Hamas of diverting resources, while Hamas denies these claims. This political contention hinders coordination and distribution mechanisms.
Logistical challenges, such as infrastructure damage, lack of electricity, and limited operational bakeries and kitchens, reduce local food production and storage capacity. Humanitarian groups report that many community kitchens have exhausted supplies, with most Gazans relying solely on aid for food.
The UN and aid agencies report growing acute malnutrition rates, especially among children and pregnant women, pushing Gaza towards famine. Severe hunger reduces people’s ability to access aid, further worsening the crisis.
Eyewitnesses report violence and chaos in the distribution of aid packages in the Gaza Strip. Relief packages, containing items such as rice, chickpeas, milk powder, oil, and canned beans, are often stolen or misappropriated, leaving many families without essential supplies.
More than 100 international aid organizations have called for access to people in need in the Gaza Strip. The World Health Organization (WHO) warns of a deadly hunger crisis, with at least 21 children under the age of five having died from malnutrition since the beginning of the year.
The Israeli government spokesman accuses Hamas of seizing aid trucks and selling them at exorbitant prices, while many residents of the Gaza Strip live on only one meal a day due to high food prices and limited aid deliveries. A quarter of the population in the Gaza Strip is now living in "hunger-like conditions," according to the World Food Programme (WFP).
The WFP reports that 90,000 women and children urgently need medical treatment. Tons of food, clean water, medical supplies, shelters, and fuels are lying unused due to lack of access. Ross Smith, Director of Emergency Operations at WFP, reports that malnutrition is rapidly increasing.
The situation is dire, with 2.1 million people in Gaza trapped in a war zone and facing starvation. Mohammed Dschudi, a resident of Gaza, has lost around 30 kilograms since the beginning of the Gaza war after the Hamas massacre in October 2023. Hiba al-Chatib, a resident of Gaza, shares her struggle, stating that her six-member family's relief package would last only four days.
The urgent need for a ceasefire and unhindered humanitarian access cannot be overstated. Without immediate action, the situation in Gaza may spiral into a full-blown famine, with devastating consequences for the population.
- Various news sources report a dire health-and-wellness situation in the Gaza Strip due to a hunger crisis, caused by factors including blockade, ongoing conflict, and political disputes.
- Mental-health issues are expected to rise as the crisis deepens, considering the severe hunger experienced by children and pregnant women in the region.
- Fitness-and-exercise might become even more challenging as people struggle to meet their basic nutritional needs, with the World Food Programme stating that a quarter of the population in Gaza is now living in "hunger-like conditions."
- Aid organizations have called for more access to distribute food, water, medical supplies, shelters, and fuels, citing war-and-conflicts and politics as obstacles in their efforts.
- General-news outlets are covering the crisis extensively, reporting on crime-and-justice incidents involving the theft or misappropriation of humanitarian aid packages, further complicating the situation.
