UNITED NATIONS: “People in Gaza risk dying of hunger just miles from trucks filled with food,” Cindy McCain, the head of the World Food Programme (WFP), warned on Monday.
Her statement is part of a rare joint appeal issued at the UN headquarters in New York, expressing deep concern over the dire situation in Gaza after more than 100 days of bombardment.
Highlighting the risk of famine and disease, the UN agencies called for a “fundamental step change” in procedures and outlined immediate actions needed, including the opening of new entry routes, easing border checks, and ensuring the safety of aid distribution.
With approximately 2.2 million people in Gaza facing food insecurity, the agencies stressed the urgency of addressing the crisis.
Over 2.2 million people face food insecurity in the besieged territory
“Humanitarian aid alone cannot meet the essential needs of the people of Gaza,” the UN appeal noted, as Ms McCain, the WFP chief, insisted that urgent action was needed to boost aid deliveries as the entire population of Gaza is now dependent on aid for survival.
No time to lose
“Every hour lost puts countless lives at risk,” the WFP Executive Director said. “We can keep famine at bay, but only if we can deliver sufficient supplies and have safe access to everyone in need, wherever they are.”
The joint statement outlined four urgent requirements for preventing deaths by hunger in Gaza: open new entry routes; allow more trucks through border checks each day, ensure fewer restrictions on the movement of humanitarian workers, and guarantee the safety of people accessing and distributing aid.
Child welfare is a significant concern, with projections indicating a potential 30 per cent increase in child wasting, the most life-threatening form of malnutrition.
Catherine Russell, the Unicef’s Executive Director, emphasised the need for medical treatment, clean water, and sanitation services, but challenges on the ground hinder safe access to those in need.
The UN agencies requested an urgent Israeli authorisation to use the Ashdod port, the nearest Israeli port form Gaza, emphasising that larger aid quantities can reach the affected northern regions of the besieged territory through this point.
They stressed the importance of lifting barriers and restrictions on aid delivery, calling for a humanitarian ceasefire to facilitate a massive, multi-agency operation.
Despite these appeals, the humanitarian update reported continued Israeli bombardment and ground fighting.
According to this report, the situation remains complex in Gaza, with over 250 Israeli prisoners captured in the Hamas raid on Oct 7 pleading for their safe return in a recent video message.
As the crisis in Gaza deepens, the UN and its aid partners emphasised the critical need for immediate and coordinated international efforts to address the escalating humanitarian challenges.
Published in Dawn, January 16th, 2024
