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Gaza: Aid access continues to be blocked, children are starving
The United Nations humanitarian agency stated today that people in Gaza have hardly received enough aid, to the extent that children are now suffering from hunger. They once again called on Israel to abide by international law and ensure the safe transportation of life-saving supplies in this war-torn area.
The World Health Organization has issued an alert stating that a food insecurity survey has found that more than four fifths of children "have not eaten for at least one full day within three days.".
Hunger Portrait
WHO spokesperson Harris stated that these are children under the age of five who have not received food all day. She said, "So, you're asking, have the supplies been delivered? Actually, they're not. The children are starving."
Another worrying data from the food insecurity survey shows that almost all young people surveyed in Gaza only consume two different food categories per day, while the World Health Organization recommends consuming at least five.
According to the latest data released by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs this week, over 93400 children under the age of five in Gaza have undergone malnutrition screening since mid January; 7280 children were found to have acute malnutrition, of which 5604 had moderate acute malnutrition and 1676 had severe acute malnutrition.
A preventable and terrifying situation
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs has also expressed similar concerns and emphasized the deadly risk of malnutrition and famine among the most vulnerable population in Gaza.
Spokesperson for the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, Lark, said, "It is clear that people have not received the food they urgently need to prevent famine and the various terrorist situations we see. Currently, there are very few supplies available."
When answering questions about barriers to aid access, he emphasized that aid supplies did not reach the hands of local people.
He reiterated that the obligation of the Israeli authorities to facilitate the transportation of humanitarian supplies under international humanitarian law is not limited to borders. He said, "You unload the goods a few meters away from the border, then drive away and have humanitarian personnel drive through active war zones to retrieve aid supplies, they cannot do it."
In response to reports of Israel's continued deadly bombing of the Gaza Strip on Friday, Lark emphasized that the land crossing points used by aid convoys remain the "only way to obtain large-scale and rapid aid.".
He said, "We need more of these land ports, we need them to be open so that aid can be safely retrieved when it is delivered."
Damaged floating dock
When asked about the reported partial rupture of the floating dock built by the US military on the high seas off the coast of Gaza, Lark pointed out, "We welcome all forms of aid, so when this approach fails, it is certainly bad news... Floating docks have never been the main channel of aid, they can serve as a supplementary channel. We have always emphasized this."
The World Health Organization reports that as part of its ongoing efforts to prevent hunger from endangering lives in Gaza, the organization, along with partners and local health authorities, continues to provide stable services to children suffering from the most severe malnutrition.
So far, 68 children have received treatment, but due to the recent escalation of hostilities, the nutrition stability center at Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza has ceased service.
According to a report by the World Food Programme and its partners, since May 1st, they have provided 15 day nutritional supplements to approximately 60000 children under the age of five and 22820 pregnant and lactating women to help prevent malnutrition.
Gaza: Aid access continues to be blocked, children are starving
The United Nations humanitarian agency stated today that people in Gaza have hardly received enough aid, to the extent that children are now suffering from hunger. They once again called on Israel to abide by international law and ensure the safe transportation of life-saving supplies in this war-torn area.
The World Health Organization has issued an alert stating that a food insecurity survey has found that more than four fifths of children "have not eaten for at least one full day within three days.".
Hunger Portrait
WHO spokesperson Harris stated that these are children under the age of five who have not received food all day. She said, "So, you're asking, have the supplies been delivered? Actually, they're not. The children are starving."
Another worrying data from the food insecurity survey shows that almost all young people surveyed in Gaza only consume two different food categories per day, while the World Health Organization recommends consuming at least five.
According to the latest data released by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs this week, over 93400 children under the age of five in Gaza have undergone malnutrition screening since mid January; 7280 children were found to have acute malnutrition, of which 5604 had moderate acute malnutrition and 1676 had severe acute malnutrition.
A preventable and terrifying situation
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs has also expressed similar concerns and emphasized the deadly risk of malnutrition and famine among the most vulnerable population in Gaza.
Spokesperson for the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, Lark, said, "It is clear that people have not received the food they urgently need to prevent famine and the various terrorist situations we see. Currently, there are very few supplies available."
When answering questions about barriers to aid access, he emphasized that aid supplies did not reach the hands of local people.
He reiterated that the obligation of the Israeli authorities to facilitate the transportation of humanitarian supplies under international humanitarian law is not limited to borders. He said, "You unload the goods a few meters away from the border, then drive away and have humanitarian personnel drive through active war zones to retrieve aid supplies, they cannot do it."
In response to reports of Israel's continued deadly bombing of the Gaza Strip on Friday, Lark emphasized that the land crossing points used by aid convoys remain the "only way to obtain large-scale and rapid aid.".
He said, "We need more of these land ports, we need them to be open so that aid can be safely retrieved when it is delivered."
Damaged floating dock
When asked about the reported partial rupture of the floating dock built by the US military on the high seas off the coast of Gaza, Lark pointed out, "We welcome all forms of aid, so when this approach fails, it is certainly bad news... Floating docks have never been the main channel of aid, they can serve as a supplementary channel. We have always emphasized this."
The World Health Organization reports that as part of its ongoing efforts to prevent hunger from endangering lives in Gaza, the organization, along with partners and local health authorities, continues to provide stable services to children suffering from the most severe malnutrition.
So far, 68 children have received treatment, but due to the recent escalation of hostilities, the nutrition stability center at Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza has ceased service.
According to a report by the World Food Programme and its partners, since May 1st, they have provided 15 day nutritional supplements to approximately 60000 children under the age of five and 22820 pregnant and lactating women to help prevent malnutrition.