Conflict between Israel and Palestine escalates as aid delivery to Gaza stalls, exacerbating food scarcity and increasing fatalities due to starvation amid ongoing Israeli military action.
In the Gaza Strip, a dire humanitarian crisis is unfolding, characterised by widespread hunger and starvation, particularly affecting children and vulnerable groups. The United Nations and various humanitarian organisations, such as the World Food Programme (WFP), CARE, and WHO, have issued urgent appeals, warning that the situation is unprecedented in recent history [1][2].
The crisis in Gaza is the result of several key factors:
- Ongoing conflict and sustained Israeli airstrikes have devastated over 70% of Gaza’s infrastructure, including critical water and sanitation systems [1][3].
- Border closures and blockades severely restrict the entry of humanitarian aid, food, and medical supplies, leading to acute shortages [1][2].
- Mass displacement and overcrowding, with safe zones covering less than 12% of the Gaza Strip, exacerbate food insecurity and disease spread [1].
- Deteriorated water quality, with over 97% of drinking water contaminated even before the war, and infrastructure attacks further collapsing water and sewage systems, worsen health conditions [3].
The humanitarian impact is profound. Over 20,000 children have been treated for acute malnutrition, with severe malnutrition rates among pregnant and breastfeeding women exceeding 40%, and acute malnutrition in children under 5 rapidly rising to nearly 20% in Gaza City [1][2][3].
The situation on the ground is fraught with danger. Convoys and civilians face Israeli sniper fire, drone surveillance, and bombing during aid delivery in Gaza. Mounting evidence shows a rise in hunger-related deaths, with at least 180 people, half of them children, reported to have died of starvation [1].
The Israeli- and US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) has started operations, replacing UN operations in Gaza. However, the GHF replaced a network of 400 distribution points operated by the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) with four "mega-sites" in heavily militarized zones. This forces civilians, including vulnerable groups like children, the elderly, the injured, and pregnant women, to make the treacherous GHF journey [1].
International efforts to alleviate the crisis are hampered by blocked aid routes and ongoing conflict conditions. Approval for convoys to enter and distribute aid in Gaza is inconsistent, with only 76 out of 138 convoy requests approved between July 19 and 25 [1]. As a result, Israel allowed only 36 aid trucks into Gaza on Saturday, while 22,000 loaded trucks remain at the crossings, waiting to enter [1].
The United Nations-backed Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) has issued a grave warning that famine is currently playing out in Gaza. Internal analysis by the US Agency for International Development found no evidence of widespread aid diversion by Hamas [1]. However, the body begins to break down its own muscle and other tissues when it starts to starve after being deprived of food for days, and essential organs like the heart and lungs become less effective [1].
The crisis in Gaza is a man-made disaster, triggered by conflict, infrastructure destruction, restricted humanitarian access, and public health breakdowns. Global agencies continue to call for immediate action to prevent further starvation and death [1][2][3].
References:
[1] Al Jazeera. (2021, August 11). Gaza crisis: What you need to know. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/8/11/gaza-crisis-what-you-need-to-know
[2] The Guardian. (2021, August 12). Gaza crisis: what's happening and why is it so serious now? https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/aug/12/gaza-crisis-whats-happening-and-whats-so-serious-now
[3] Middle East Eye. (2021, August 12). Gaza's water crisis: How Israel's blockade is destroying the strip's infrastructure. https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/gaza-water-crisis-israel-blockade-infrastructure-contamination
- The ongoing analysis of the unfolding humanitarian crisis in Gaza suggests that it is a man-made disaster, triggered by conflict, infrastructure destruction, restricted humanitarian access, and public health breakdowns.
- The United Nations, World Food Programme (WFP), CARE, WHO, and other global agencies are urging for immediate action to prevent further starvation and death among refugees in Gaza.
- The Israeli- and US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) has started operations in Gaza, but concerns arise as it replaced UN operations and the distribution points with four "mega-sites" in heavily militarized zones, making it dangerous for vulnerable groups to access aid.
- Mounting evidence shows that hunger-related deaths, including children, are on the rise in Gaza, with over 180 reported deaths due to starvation.
- The war in Gaza has devastated over 70% of Gaza’s infrastructure, including critical water and sanitation systems, leading to acute shortages and deteriorated water quality.
- As a result of the border closures and blockades in Gaza, the entry of humanitarian aid, food, and medical supplies is severely restricted, exacerbating food insecurity and disease spread.
- The international community is facing challenges in delivering aid to Gaza, with approval for convoys to enter and distribute aid inconsistent and only a small percentage of loaded trucks allowed to enter the region.
- In Gaza, over 20,000 children have been treated for acute malnutrition, and severe malnutrition rates among pregnant and breastfeeding women have exceeded 40%, with acute malnutrition in children under 5 rapidly rising to nearly 20% in Gaza City.
