Gaza Hunger Crisis Worsens: Dozens More Dead, Aid Groups Warn of Mass Starvation
Gaza Hunger Crisis Worsens: Dozens More Dead, Aid Groups Warn of Mass Starvation
The humanitarian crisis in Gaza has reached a critical point, with Palestinian officials reporting 27 deaths from hunger in just the last three days, bringing the total to 113 fatalities since October 2023. Alarmingly, 81 of these deaths are children, underscoring the devastating impact of widespread malnutrition across the besieged territory.
Doctors and aid workers on the ground describe a rapidly deteriorating situation, with hospitals overwhelmed by patients suffering from hunger-related ailments. Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) reported a tripling of severe malnutrition cases in children under five within just two weeks, and UNICEF noted a four-fold increase in acute malnutrition detections in Gaza City since February. Aid organizations like MedGlobal are also witnessing unprecedented numbers of children admitted with severe acute malnutrition, with five young children dying in their clinics over 72 hours.
“This is an emergency because up to 50% of children with severe acute malnutrition can die,” warned Dr. Zaher Sahloul, president of MedGlobal, emphasizing the urgent need for a dramatic increase in aid. Testimonies from parents struggling to feed their children, including heartbreaking accounts of contemplating extreme measures, highlight the profound despair.
Mercy Corps, among over 100 aid groups, issued a joint statement this week, cautioning against “mass starvation” and warning that the crisis is on the verge of snowballing into an irreversible catastrophe requiring therapeutic feeding, not just more food supplies. Aid workers themselves are facing severe food shortages, with one MSF volunteer reporting a significant weight loss due to lack of food availability in markets, despite having money.
The dire situation persists amidst conflicting claims regarding aid delivery. While aid agencies and Palestinian officials emphasize severe shortages, the Israeli government denies limiting aid, attributing supply issues to Hamas’s alleged diversion of resources. The U.S. State Department echoed this, placing responsibility on Hamas. However, organizations on the ground reiterate that the primary issue is the lack of accessible food and the inability to effectively distribute what little aid enters.
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