Warnings of a full-blown famine in Gaza are now giving way to graphic images, with reports of Palestinian children with emaciated bodies and sunken eyes being treated at a clinic in southern Gaza. The situation is dire, with children suffering from malnutrition and various diseases arriving in unprecedented numbers, according to a nurse at the clinic.
U.N. experts have accused Israel of intentionally starving the Palestinian people, alleging that civilians seeking humanitarian aid are being targeted. Israel has denied these allegations, but the urgency of the situation is evident from the increasing warnings about starvation in Gaza from international agencies.
NGOs and humanitarian groups have been sounding the alarm for months, with the World Health Organization reporting a rising number of child deaths in Gaza. The health ministry in Gaza, under Hamas control, has stated that around 15 children have died from malnutrition and dehydration. The WHO has highlighted that one in six children under the age of two is acutely malnourished, a figure that is likely higher now.
The situation is particularly severe in the northern part of Gaza, where malnutrition rates are three times higher than in the south. Despite some aid reaching the southern region, humanitarian groups are struggling to access the north. Calls for Israel to open crossings for humanitarian aid have been made by the Biden administration, emphasizing the need to act swiftly to prevent further child suffering.
The Biden administration has stressed that there are no excuses for obstructing aid delivery, and humanitarian organizations have reiterated their warnings about the dire consequences of inadequate assistance. Children are disproportionately affected by the lack of humanitarian aid, underscoring the urgent need for immediate action to address the crisis in Gaza.
