Gaza hunger crisis worsens amid conflict
Palestinians in Gaza City are facing a worsening hunger crisis, with malnutrition now causing deaths at an alarming rate during the ongoing conflict. Health officials report that at least 101 people, including 80 children, have died from hunger-related causes, with most fatalities occurring in recent weeks. Residents express their desperation.
Israel controls all aid supplies entering the enclave, where the population has been repeatedly displaced and suffers from severe shortages of basic necessities. The head of the U.N. Palestinian refugee agency has reported that staff, doctors, and humanitarian workers are fainting from hunger and exhaustion while trying to assist those in need.
Despite international condemnation of civilian casualties and the lack of aid, no significant actions have been taken to alleviate the situation. Israel maintains that it prioritizes the transfer of humanitarian aid and denies accusations of obstructing aid delivery, instead blaming Hamas for allegedly stealing food supplies.
Since the conflict escalated following a deadly attack by Hamas on October 7, 2023, Israeli military actions have resulted in nearly 60,000 deaths in Gaza, according to local health authorities. The World Health Organization has called for the release of its detained staff members and a ceasefire to facilitate medical aid delivery. Recent military actions have targeted WHO facilities, compromising their operations.
Israeli tanks have entered southern and eastern districts of Deir al-Balah, an area densely populated with displaced Palestinians. Aid agencies, including the UN and various NGOs, warn that Gaza is on the brink of famine, with half the population experiencing acute food insecurity and hundreds of thousands facing starvation.
Experts warn that the ongoing crisis could have lasting effects on a generation, with Gaza increasingly described as a "graveyard of children."
