The population of Gaza is facing an unprecedented humanitarian crisis, as they constitute 80% of all people suffering from famine in the world, in light of the continued Israeli attacks and siege on the Strip, according to United Nations human rights experts.
Experts point out that the people of Gaza today face serious challenges in meeting their basic needs for food and clean water, which increases the risk of famine, and pregnant women face a lack of nutrition and health care, which puts their lives at risk.
With the increasing threat to health, 335,000 children under the age of five are exposed to a high risk of malnutrition, which increases the challenges facing an entire generation due to the risk of stunting.
Stunting occurs as a result of young children not receiving adequate nutrition, leading to delayed growth and irreversible physical and mental disabilities, which threatens the ability of an entire generation to learn.
The Israeli siege on the Gaza Strip
Since October 9, 2023, Israel has tightened its blockade of Gaza, depriving 2.2 million Palestinians of access to water, food, fuel, medicines and medical supplies.
This comes in the context of the Israeli siege that has been ongoing for 17 years before this war, as about half of Gaza’s population suffers from a lack of food security, and more than 80% of them depend on humanitarian aid.
While aid is distributed in the southern governorates, since January 1, only 21% of the total aid has reached the northern Gaza Valley, and experts are concerned about the situation in northern Gaza, as residents face long-term food shortages and restrictions. Acute access to basic resources.
In the south, many individuals face difficult conditions, living in inadequate shelters or in areas lacking basic facilities, which further deteriorates the humanitarian situation.
Experts stress that this situation is unprecedented, as the Israeli siege causes people to suffer from hunger quickly and completely.
They added that Israel is destroying agricultural infrastructure and preventing access to agricultural land and the sea, using food as a weapon to pressure the Palestinian people.
Data in recent reports showed that Israeli forces have bulldozed approximately 22% of the agricultural land in the Gaza Strip since the start of the ground attack on October 27, and this area includes orchards, greenhouses, and agricultural lands in the northern Gaza Strip. Israel also destroyed approximately 70% of The fishing fleet in Gaza.
Despite the provision of some humanitarian aid, the population is still suffering from a severe shortage of food and fuel necessary for cooking, with most bakeries closed due to lack of fuel, water and flour, in addition to structural damage.
The animals are starving
Livestock in Gaza also suffer from hunger and cannot be a source of food.
At the same time, access to clean water has decreased, and the health sector has collapsed due to the widespread destruction of hospitals, causing a significant spread of infectious diseases.
As for homes, Israel destroyed more than 60% of Palestinian homes in Gaza, and some of them were subjected to complete destruction, making the area uninhabitable.
Estimates by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs indicate that about 85% of the population of Gaza (equivalent to 1.9 million people) are internally displaced due to the war, and this includes many people who have had to be displaced repeatedly, as they constantly move with their families in search of safety.
Experts have warned of the danger of genocide several times, reminding all governments that they have a duty to prevent genocide.
They emphasized that Israel not only kills Palestinian civilians through its indiscriminate bombing that causes irreparable damage, but it also deliberately imposes high rates of disease and malnutrition for long periods, in addition to creating droughts and famine through the destruction of civilian infrastructure.
The experts called for the need to provide humanitarian aid to the residents of Gaza immediately without any obstacle to prevent famine.
They noted that their concern about genocide is not limited only to the ongoing bombing of Gaza, but also extends to the slow suffering and death resulting from the long-term Israeli occupation, blockade and current civilian destruction.
The experts explained that achieving peace, security and stability for both Israelis and Palestinians requires the implementation of Palestinian self-determination, and this can only be achieved through an immediate ceasefire and ending the Israeli occupation.
