In a shocking report, the UN's Palestinian refugee agency (UNRWA) revealed that one in five children in Gaza City is malnourished, and the situation is worsening daily. Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini described a haunting reality, noting that the current hunger crisis in Gaza is unprecedented. More than 100 global aid organizations have urged governments to act before the situation leads to mass starvation.
Israel, which regulates all supplies entering Gaza, contests the characterization of a siege and blames Hamas for the nutritional crisis. However, the UN states that aid entering the region is minimal, fueling claims that the crisis has escalated to dire levels. Lazzarini emphasized that without immediate humanitarian assistance, many more children could perish from starvation.
The World Health Organization (WHO) added weight to these claims, stating that the majority of Gaza's population is "starving," attributing this plight to man-made causes. Reports of locals, including mothers, searching for scraps of food in garbage bins have surfaced, revealing a desperate struggle for survival.
Even as Israeli President Isaac Herzog claimed his country is following international law to provide aid, on-the-ground realities told a different story. Basic needs like food and water have become luxuries for many families.
The situation has sharply deteriorated since aid deliveries were halted in early March and has only partially resumed, leaving thousands unable to access necessary supplies. With dire encounters reported near aid distribution sites, heartbreaking stories of casualties among civilians have emerged, leading many to fear traveling for food.
As Gaza's humanitarian crisis deepens, citizens are pleading for urgent intervention before irreversible damage is done to families, particularly children facing malnutrition and hunger.
