Israel's Deliberate Aid Delays Fuel Gaza Starvation Crisis
Oxfam and UNRWA reports highlight a deepening humanitarian disaster, with over 20% of children now malnourished amid accusations that Israel is using aid delays as a deliberate tactic.
GAZA, PUREWILAYAH.COM — A severe humanitarian crisis is deepening in the Gaza Strip, with aid organizations and UN agencies reporting widespread malnutrition among children and a growing number of hunger-related deaths. According to a recent report by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), over 20% of children in Gaza City are malnourished, with the rate reaching 21.5% in some areas. The UNRWA report also highlights the increasing dehydration among the population, exacerbated by a severe heatwave and limited access to water.
The crisis is compounded by what global charity Oxfam describes as "deliberate delays" in the delivery of humanitarian aid by Israeli authorities. Chris McIntosh, an Oxfam spokesman, stated that aid organizations face multiple obstacles, including bombings, drone attacks, and a slow process for aid entry. He also accused Israel of using these tactics to "frustrate" relief efforts and cited instances where generators and other critical supplies were blocked due to what Israel claimed were security concerns.
Over 100 organizations, including Doctors Without Borders and Save the Children, have reported that their requests to deliver aid have been rejected by Israeli authorities, despite their long-standing presence in Gaza. As a result, millions of dollars worth of supplies are currently stuck in warehouses in Jordan and Egypt.
The Gaza Government Media Office has accused Israel of "engineering starvation" by preventing essential food items from entering the territory. A UN report further supports these claims, revealing that nearly 13,000 children were hospitalised for severe malnutrition in July alone. The Gaza Health Ministry has reported that the total number of hunger-related deaths has reached 240, including 107 children. (PW)
Source: PressTv