The humanitarian crisis in Gaza intensifies as new reports reveal that one in five children is experiencing malnutrition, marking the situation as "never so dire," according to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). Philippe Lazzarini, the agency's Commissioner-General, quoted a colleague stating bluntly, "People in Gaza are neither dead nor alive, they are walking corpses." With over 100 international aid organizations and human rights groups sounding the alarm over mass starvation, the call for intervention has grown urgent.
Israel, which maintains control over supply entries into Gaza, denies any claim of a siege and attributes the rising malnutrition statistics to Hamas' actions. However, the United Nations argues that the influx of aid to Gaza is merely a trickle, exacerbating the hunger crisis. Lazzarini emphasized the dire conditions, revealing that more than 100 individuals, primarily children, have already succumbed to hunger.
World Health Organization (WHO) head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus described the ongoing crisis as "man-made" and stated that a significant portion of Gaza's populace is currently "starving." Concerns from local aid workers echo these sentiments, as food supplies in local markets become scarce and exorbitantly priced. One mother recounted selling personal belongings just to secure flour, describing the struggle for basic nourishment as a daily ordeal.
Amid this backdrop, Israel's President Isaac Herzog recently asserted that the country is providing humanitarian aid in compliance with international law. In contrast, many Gazans report that they are merely surviving from hour to hour, with daily tasks like cooking and bathing becoming distant luxuries. One aid worker lamented that her baby has yet to experience fresh fruit.
In recent developments, Israel briefly halted aid deliveries in March, and although some restrictions have been lifted, shortages of food, fuel, and medicine persist. Human rights organizations report that over 1,000 Palestinians have lost their lives while attempting to secure aid, with many fatalities occurring near distribution sites run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF). The Israeli government attributes disorder at these sites to Hamas' provocations.
The plight of individuals in Gaza is epitomized by the stories of those like Najah, a 19-year-old widow who fears for her life while seeking aid. Describing their living conditions, citizens express a profound sense of hopelessness, exacerbated by personal losses and the community's struggle for survival. Abu Alaa, a market vendor, voiced desperation, stating, “We are not alive. We are dead,” while pregnant Walaa Fathi expressed fears for her unborn child amidst the catastrophic circumstances. As international scrutiny continues, the call for assistance from Gaza becomes increasingly urgent.
