The World Health Organisation (WHO) says people in Gaza are risking their lives to find food, water and other supplies — such is the level of hunger and despair during the Israeli assault on the strip, Al Jazeera reports.

“The system in Gaza is on its knees. It’s more than on its knees,” WHO spokesperson Christian Lindmeier told reporters in Geneva. “All the lifelines in Gaza have more or less been cut.”

Lindmeier said this has created a “desperate situation”, as seen when more than 100 people seeking humanitarian aid in Gaza were killed.

“People are so desperate for food, for freshwater, for any supplies that they risk their lives in getting any food, any supplies to support their children, to support themselves,” Lindmeier said.

“The food supplies have been cut off deliberately. Let’s not forget that,” he added.