A senior official from the United Nations has issued a warning, stating that half of the population in Gaza is facing starvation amid ongoing conflicts.Â
Carl Skau, the deputy director of the UN World Food Programme, revealed that only a fraction of the necessary supplies has been able to reach Gaza, leaving nine out of 10 people unable to eat every day.
Difficult conditions in Gaza have made the delivery of aid “almost impossible,” according to Mr. Skau.
The situation escalated when Hamas fighters breached Israel’s heavily guarded perimeter fence on October 7, resulting in Israel imposing heavy restrictions on movement in and out of Gaza.
Israel contends that it must continue air strikes on Gaza to eliminate Hamas and secure the release of Israeli hostages.
Lt Col Richard Hecht, a spokesperson for the Israel Defense Forces, expressed the challenges of balancing military actions with minimizing civilian casualties.
He mentioned the efforts to deliver aid into Gaza while emphasizing the absence of a viable alternative.
The conflict has taken a toll on Gaza’s residents, with limited aid reaching the region due to restricted borders and ongoing air strikes.
The Hamas-run health ministry reports a significant number of casualties, including many children.
Carl Skau, sharing his recent experience in Gaza, highlighted the widespread desperation and chaos, pointing out overwhelmed distribution points and overcrowded shelters.
International pressure and a temporary ceasefire allowed some aid to enter Gaza, but the UN World Food Programme insists that a second border crossing is essential to meet the growing demand.
In specific areas, nine out of 10 families reportedly go a full day and night without any food.
Conditions in cities like Khan Younis, surrounded by Israeli tanks and heavily targeted in air strikes, are described as dire.
Dr. Ahmed Moghrabi from Nasser hospital in Khan Younis emphasized the scarcity of food, water, and medicine, expressing helplessness in providing for his own family.
The situation led Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to accuse the United States of complicity in war crimes after it vetoed a UN Security Council resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire.
The resolution received overwhelming support from Security Council members, with the US being the sole dissenting vote.
The US ambassador to the UN defended the veto, claiming the resolution called for an “unsustainable ceasefire” that would leave Hamas in place.
The conflict continues, with casualties on both sides and a complex geopolitical landscape contributing to the ongoing crisis.
