Following the publication of the IPC snapshot on Gaza, ActionAid Ireland emphasises the urgent need for immediate international intervention. Despite weeks of desperate warnings, the long aid blockade in Gaza is pushing the already beleaguered population to a devastating human catastrophe. This entirely man-made crisis has been allowed to escalate to the horrifying point where the IPC says famine is not just possible but increasingly likely.
Karol Balfe, ActionAid Ireland CEO said: “Today’s damning announcement that the entire Gaza strip is at high risk of collapsing into famine is a stain on humanity’s conscience, yet it comes as little surprise amid the Israeli authorities’ ongoing and deliberate refusal to allow any food or other life-saving aid into the territory.”
She said: “Our colleagues, partners and the women and girls we work with in Gaza tell us that the food situation is already utterly catastrophic and that even finding one meal a day is increasingly difficult.”
Thousands of children are being treated for acute malnutrition. At least 57 people have reportedly starved to death since the total blockade started. The Palestinian Authority has already declared the strip to be in famine.
Lina*, a mother in Gaza, described the lack of food in Gaza and the desperate coping mechanisms she and other families are forced to rely on to survive.
She said: “I can only describe the condition we live in as famine. Our pantry supplies and tinned foods are running out. Community kitchens have stopped operating. It breaks your heart when a child asks for a piece of fruit, and you can’t give them something as simple as a banana or an orange.
“With the food shortages, especially flour, we heavily rely on pasta; we soak it in water, we then drain and mix it the following day with a small amount of flour. That’s our way of trying to stretch the little flour we have left.
“We survive on one meal a day. Each family member gets one pitta bread, which they can eat whenever they choose, we usually save it for lunch. We’d have some biscuits and tea in the morning. Our main meal is lunch, usually pasta or rice, but even those are becoming harder to find. Either they’re unavailable, or they’re too expensive.”
Samira*, a mother in Gaza, said:
“Nutritious food is simply not available. Eggs, dairy, and fruit are extremely scarce. Fish is available, but it’s so expensive that most people can’t afford it. As for chicken and meat, they’ve been unavailable since the crossing was closed.
“We try to find substitutes for missing nutrients, but there are some foods you simply cannot replace. Many children are now visibly suffering from malnutrition.”
Leen* is nine months pregnant and suffering from malnutrition and anaemia.
She said: “When I first had a craving while pregnant, fruit was available, but the prices were very high, to the point that I bought one apple for 15 shekels.
“Now, my worst nightmare is that I give birth and the crossings are closed.
“I have malnutrition so during pregnancy I am supposed to eat a lot of things. Unfortunately there is nothing, neither fruit, nor protein, nor milk, nor eggs, nor cheese. All of these things affect me, and I am very afraid that this will affect the baby.”
Mariam*, a child in Gaza, said:
“As children we miss all the foods, like meat, chicken, steak, and all these foods and hamburgers. I personally love grape leaves very much but my mother cannot get it for me because a kilo costs 90 [shekels].”
Ms Balfe said:
“There is nothing inevitable about this crisis: the Israeli authorities could decide right now to open up the borders and let the life-saving aid that is ready and waiting to be delivered in. The international community must wake up to the severity of the situation and do everything in its power to pressure them to do so. We need urgent action to stop any more people starving to death, and a permanent end to the war, now – the alternative is unthinkable.”
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