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GAZA: The famine crisis in Gaza has reached catastrophic levels, with starvation and hunger claiming the lives of 21 children in just the past three days, according to reports from local and international agencies.
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) has revealed that over one million children in Gaza are suffering from extreme hunger. In the last 24 hours alone, 15 Palestinians, including 4 children, have died due to starvation and lack of access to food.
Ongoing Israeli military blockades have prevented humanitarian aid from entering Gaza. Aid trucks lined up at the Egyptian border are being denied entry, leaving Palestinians desperate for a single meal.
UNRWA disclosed that since March, Israel has only allowed limited food and humanitarian supplies into Gaza — far below what is needed to meet the population’s urgent needs. The agency warned that the ongoing blockade and relentless bombardment are severely endangering the health and development of children.
A UNRWA spokesperson stated that the crisis is now beyond urgent, with children crying from hunger and parents having nothing to feed them. The agency urged the international community to ensure immediate and unhindered delivery of humanitarian aid to save innocent lives.
Gaza’s Civil Defense Agency expressed deep concern over the worsening famine. Agency spokesperson Mahmoud Basel, speaking to Al Jazeera, said, “We have seen children die of hunger. Mothers are helpless.” He accused Israeli forces of using food as a weapon and targeting civilians seeking aid.
Human rights organizations and world governments are being urged to take immediate notice of the humanitarian catastrophe. The Civil Defense Agency demanded that the Israeli blockade be lifted and aid deliveries be allowed into Gaza without further delay.
In response to the crisis, 25 nations, including the United Kingdom, have called for an immediate ceasefire and the unrestricted delivery of humanitarian aid into Gaza.
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