A third of Palestinians are going days without food, UNICEF warns

The UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) has issued a dire warning that Gaza is on the verge of famine, with one in three people going days without food.

The organization on Friday (August 1) called for immediate international action to address the deteriorating conditions in the region.

According to Ted Chaiban, UNICEF's deputy executive director, more than 320,000 young children are at risk of acute malnutrition, a number that has exceeded the famine threshold.

Chaiban emphasized that the suffering in Gaza is "most acute," with children dying at an "unprecedented rate." The choices made now, he said, will determine whether "tens of thousands of children live or die."

The death toll from starvation in Gaza has reached 162, including 92 children. The broader conflict, which began on October 7, 2023, has killed at least 60,000 Palestinians, with over 18,000 of them children.

Residents of Gaza describe a pervasive sense of insecurity, not only from constant bombings but also from a complete breakdown of law and order. A journalist in Khan Younis noted that the absence of police and security forces leaves people feeling unsafe even when performing basic tasks, such as buying food.

In response to international pressure, Israel recently eased a blockade on food aid and established new aid corridors. 

A controversial group, the GHF, has taken over aid distribution, but it has been accused of targeting civilians, with over 1,300 Palestinians reportedly killed while trying to get food from their aid hubs.

While some governments have resorted to airdropping aid, UNICEF warns that this method cannot replace the volume and scale of aid delivered by road convoys. The organization insists that the most critical need is a sustained ceasefire and a political solution.

Source: Al Jazeera