The United Nations issued a pressing call on Tuesday for urgent aid to be rushed into Gaza, emphasizing the critical situation where reports indicate that children are succumbing to starvation in the conflict-stricken Palestinian region.
Jens Laerke, the spokesperson for the UN humanitarian agency, stressed the gravity of the situation, stating, “With children beginning to perish from starvation, this should ring alarm bells like never before.”
According to Gaza’s health ministry, which is under the control of Hamas, 15 children have reportedly died from starvation in a single hospital. The UN has warned that famine is highly likely in Gaza, which has been under assault by Israel since the Hamas attacks on October 7.
The World Health Organization (WHO) reported distressing scenes of malnourished children during their recent aid delivery to two northern hospitals, marking the first such mission since October. Ahmed Dahir, who led the mission, revealed that doctors at Kamal Adwan hospital disclosed that at least 10 children had died due to starvation.
The dire situation continues to escalate, with the health ministry confirming that the number of child deaths at the hospital due to malnutrition and dehydration has risen to 15, with six more infants critically malnourished.
The UN is urgently appealing for a massive influx of aid into Gaza. “If not now, when is the time to pull out all the stops, break the glass, and flood Gaza with the aid that it needs?” Laerke questioned, emphasizing the urgent need for action.
While US cargo planes have airdropped over 36,000 meals in northern Gaza in a collaborative effort with Jordan, officials acknowledge that international efforts alone are insufficient.
The situation in Gaza has deteriorated rapidly since the October attacks by Hamas militants, resulting in significant casualties on both sides. The UN’s assessment in January revealed alarming rates of malnutrition among children, with a substantial number facing life-threatening conditions.
Although the strict criteria for declaring a famine have not been met, the situation remains dire, with starvation emerging as a direct cause of children’s deaths—an alarming development, according to James Elder, spokesperson for UNICEF.
While the label of famine might draw attention, the priority remains saving the lives of children on the ground, underscoring the urgency for immediate and extensive humanitarian intervention.
