In brief
Rida Hijjeh speaks on the tragic weight loss of her five-year-old daughter, Lamia, amidst confirmed famine conditions in Gaza City. Reports indicate an extreme acute food insecurity level, with the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification declaring Phase 5, the highest level of emergency. In the face of these overwhelming circumstances, Israel's government disputes claims of starvation, labeling them as falsehoods.
Gaza mother blames famine for halving daughter's weight
A mother has told the BBC that her five-year-old daughter has lost almost half of her body weight due to the ongoing famine in Gaza City.
Lamia Hijjeh, whose family has been displaced multiple times during the relentless war, has reportedly lost 8.5kg and is unable to walk, according to her mother, Rida.
This week, the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) escalated its classification to Phase 5, indicating the worst level of acute food insecurity. The classification confirms that famine conditions exist in the Gaza Governorate, which encompasses Gaza City and its surrounding regions, with predictions of catastrophic conditions extending to Deir al-Balah and Khan Younis by the close of September.
In stark contrast, the Israeli government denies that starvation is present in Gaza, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declaring the IPC report as an outright lie.
