The Gaza Strip is facing an unprecedented humanitarian crisis, with widespread famine and a staggering number of fatalities.
According to the Gaza Ministry of Health, a total of 185 people died in August due to malnutrition, bringing the total number of hunger-related deaths to 361, including 130 children, since the start of Israel’s war on Gaza on October 7, 2023.
The situation is dire, with 43,000 children under the age of five suffering from malnutrition, along with more than 55,000 pregnant and breastfeeding women. Two-thirds of pregnant women are suffering from anaemia, the highest rate in years.
The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), a United Nations-backed global hunger-monitoring system, declared on August 22 that parts of Gaza were undergoing a full-blown famine, affecting 514,000 people, close to a quarter of the enclave’s population.
The IPC predicted that the number would rise to 641,000 by the end of September. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the famine as a “man-made disaster, a moral indictment and a failure of humanity itself”.
Guterres emphasized that Israel has “unequivocal obligations” under international law as an occupying power to ensure food and medical supplies enter Gaza.
The situation on the ground is grim, with Israeli attacks continuing to target civilians and aid seekers. At least 63 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks across Gaza since dawn on Tuesday, among them 41 in Gaza City alone.
Tareq Abu Azzoum reported from Deir el-Balah that “civilians on the ground are bearing the brunt” and that hundreds of thousands of families in Gaza City refuse to leave their homes, knowing that there are no safe spaces in central and southern Gaza.
The International Association of Genocide Scholars has formally declared that Israel’s war on Gaza meets the legal definition of genocide, marking a landmark intervention from leading experts in the field of international law.
The association passed a resolution stating that Israel’s policies and actions in Gaza fulfil the definition of genocide set out in the 1948 UN Convention for the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide.
The humanitarian crisis in Gaza is a result of Israel’s actions, including the destruction of medical facilities, schools, infrastructure, and bakeries, as well as the blocking of aid entry into the besieged Strip.
The world is witnessing a catastrophic situation, with famine conditions spreading to Deir el-Balah in central Gaza and Khan Younis in the south.
Humanitarian organizations have demanded action, while Israel has rejected the findings, saying there is no famine in Gaza despite overwhelming evidence.
In light of this devastating crisis, it is essential to acknowledge the severity of the situation and the need for immediate action. The international community must come together to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and work towards a solution that prioritizes the well-being and safety of civilians.
As Miroslav Jenča, Assistant Secretary-General for Europe, Central Asia and the Americas, stated, “There is no military solution to end the conflict… Civilians must be protected, and hostages must be released unconditionally.
Arbitrarily detained Palestinians must be freed. Israel must agree to and facilitate humanitarian relief operations, both into and within the Gaza Strip, to reach the population in need”.