Starvation Crisis in Gaza: Unprecedented Famine Claims Lives Amid Israeli Blockade
Gaza is witnessing a catastrophic famine, with an increasing number of people, including infants and the elderly, dying due to malnutrition and starvation. Hospitals in the Palestinian enclave are overwhelmed by patients collapsing from extreme hunger, as Israel's full blockade, which has been in place for 139 consecutive days, continues to prevent the entry of food and medicine.
Blockade's Dire Consequences
The blockade imposed by Israel is causing a famine that has claimed the lives of over a hundred residents, with children being the majority of victims. As of July 24, the Palestinian Ministry of Health reported 113 people have died from starvation and malnutrition, of which 81 were children.
In the face of this crisis, hospitals and health care providers are struggling. The director of Al-Shifa Hospital reported dealing with hundreds suffering from severe hunger and malnutrition, stating, We don't have enough beds or medicine. We're seeing symptoms like memory loss, exhaustion, and collapse from extreme hunger.
The Human Face of the Crisis
Amid the statistics, personal stories of suffering are emerging. Akram Basheer, a father of three, shared his struggle with Middle East Eye: “There’s absolutely nothing I can do. I just support them psychologically. I tell them, 'Insha'Allah [God willing], things will improve and food will become available.' There is no other option.”
Global Response and Calls for Action
The dire situation has triggered international condemnation, with the World Health Organisation warning that more than two million people in Gaza face starvation. Meanwhile, the UN agency for Palestinians reported thousands of truckloads of supplies near Gaza, waiting to be delivered.
Gaza's Government Media Office called for an end to Israel's ongoing blockade, stating that the enclave is “in dire need of no less than 500,000 bags of flour per week to avoid a comprehensive humanitarian collapse." It also dismissed reports about the entry of hundreds of aid trucks into Gaza as “completely untrue.”
Gaza's Struggle for Survival
As the Israeli blockade continues, the people of Gaza are fighting for survival. The blockade has pushed malnutrition to deadly levels, with hundreds of thousands of children and pregnant or breastfeeding women facing severe nutritional deficiencies.
As the crisis deepens, the impact on Gaza's healthcare system is becoming increasingly apparent. Hospitals are dealing with a surge in cases of malnutrition, with health officials warning that Gaza is now in Phase 5 famine — the most severe level, indicating a situation of mass starvation.
The catastrophic situation in Gaza is a stark reminder of the devastating impact of conflict on civilian populations. As the blockade continues, the toll of the crisis on Gaza's most vulnerable – its children – continues to rise, with the desperate hope for a resolution to the crisis becoming increasingly urgent. The world watches and waits.