A deepening humanitarian catastrophe is taking place in Gaza. Tragically, local health officials state that at least one six-week-old baby was among 15 people who died from lack of food in a single day. The conflict, which has intensified since October 7, 2023, has led to dire food shortages and skyrocketing malnutrition rates across the region. Palestinian health officials say at least 101 bedridden patients have died from starvation during the long violent conflict. Most tragically, 80 of those victims are children.
At the same time, Israel retains control over all humanitarian relief into Gaza. This shameful reality has provoked severe condemnation from many international NGOs. After months of blockades and military assaults, the Israeli military now claims that it is dedicated to transferring humanitarian aid. Heralding its promise are their active efforts to coordinate with the international community to make its entry as smooth as possible. Nevertheless, the amount of aid that is currently allowed to enter Gaza is still woefully short of what the population needs.
Aid Flow and Humanitarian Needs
Israeli military statistics reveal that an average of 146 trucks of aid per day have entered Gaza since the onset of the conflict. U.S. officials have convinced themselves that at least 600 trucks full of aid per day are needed for Gaza’s population. This jarring juxtaposition underscores the grave humanitarian emergency that is taking place throughout the region. The difference is cause for concern. The discrepancy is alarming, as humanitarian agencies warn that deaths related to starvation are increasing at an alarming rate.
The six-week-old Yousef al-Safadi was one of the last victims. His family found it hard to find baby formula to feed him. The extraordinary circumstances here speak to the broader emergency that so many families across Gaza are enduring. According to the local health ministry, malnutrition is killing more people than ever in the 21-month-long conflict. This shocking number reflects the urgent need for more humanitarian assistance.
“You can’t get milk anywhere, and if you do find any it’s $100 for a tub,” – Adham al-Safadi
What used to be a simple daily task of food collection has become a dangerous undertaking for Gazans. According to one United Nations agency, more than 1,000 people have died waiting to receive food assistance since May. These dire conditions have made what should be an easily manageable trip a dangerous journey for many families – one that could cost them their lives.
Impact of Ongoing Conflict
The current war has led to over 15,000 civilian deaths. Just in the past day, Gaza’s health ministry declared a horrifying new toll. As a result, at least 72 other Palestinians were killed by Israelis in gunfire and military airstrikes. Since the airstrikes resumed on October 7, Israeli airstrikes and ground operations have killed up to 58,000 Gazans, the overwhelming majority civilians.
Israel says its military campaign aims to destroy Hamas, the group behind an unprecedented, coordinated attack on southern Israel on October 7. This combined attack resulted in the death of more than 1,200 Israelis, including over 300 civilians. The ongoing violence has further deepened the humanitarian catastrophe, with 7 million people caught in a vicious cycle of anguish and destitution.
UNRWA Commissioner General Philippe Lazzarini pointed to the devastating impact on caregivers in Gaza, stressing that “everyone is affected.” He highlighted that doctors, nurses, journalists, and humanitarians are starving while the crossfire.
International Response and Call for Action
The worsening emergency finally moved Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong to intervene. She echoed foreign ministers from 27 other likeminded countries calling for an immediate cessation of hostilities, as well as calling on the U.S. and Western allies to increase humanitarian aid into Gaza. The world is looking directly to the United States to take immediate action to spare civilians from the catastrophic effects of this humanitarian emergency.
Despite these calls for action, the flow of aid remains insufficient to meet the urgent needs of those affected by the ongoing violence. Unfortunately, the opposite is happening. Glaring death tolls from starvation and military artillery strikes underpin the existing demand for humanitarian intervention №1.
