Gaza Strip Faces Unprecedented Humanitarian Emergency, Warn UN Experts
Independent UN experts have issued a warning that the people of Gaza are now accounting for 80% of those facing famine or catastrophic hunger worldwide. The experts highlighted the dire humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip, which has been exacerbated by the ongoing Israeli assault on the besieged enclave.
Hunger and starvation are prevalent in Gaza, with every single person in the territory experiencing hunger and a quarter of the population struggling to find food and drinkable water. Famine is imminent, according to the experts. Pregnant women and their unborn children are at risk due to a lack of sufficient nutrition and healthcare. Additionally, all children under the age of five, approximately 335,000 in total, are highly susceptible to severe malnutrition.
The experts expressed concern that an entire generation is at risk of stunting, a condition that hinders the growth and development of young children, leading to irreversible physical and cognitive impairments. This poses a significant threat to their learning capacity.
The group of experts includes individuals specializing in various human rights areas such as violence against women and girls, safe drinking water and sanitation, right to food, right to education, right to health, right to adequate housing, and the rights of internally displaced persons.
The experts stated that nowhere is safe in Gaza since Israel’s total siege began on October 9th. This siege has deprived 2.3 million Palestinians of essential resources such as water, food, fuel, medicine, and other medical supplies. The situation is worsened by a 17-year Israeli blockade that has made approximately half of the people in Gaza food insecure and more than 80% reliant on humanitarian aid.
Most aid deliveries during the conflict have been concentrated in southern Gaza, with only five out of 24 scheduled shipments reaching regions north of Wadi Gaza as of January 1st. Concerns have grown about deteriorating conditions in northern Gaza, where residents are experiencing prolonged food shortages and limited access to essential resources.
In southern Gaza, large numbers of displaced people are living in inadequate shelters or areas lacking basic amenities, exacerbating the already harsh living conditions.
The experts accused Israel of destroying or blocking access to farmland and the sea, including orchards, greenhouses, and Gaza’s fishing fleet. They also highlighted the lack of fuel, water, and wheat flour, which has rendered most bakeries non-operational. Livestock are starving, safe water access is diminishing, and the healthcare system has collapsed due to widespread destruction of hospitals.
Israeli forces have destroyed over 60% of Palestinian homes in Gaza, affecting families’ ability to cook and making the territory uninhabitable. The UN estimates that nearly 85% of Gaza’s population, around 1.9 million people, is internally displaced.
The experts called for immediate aid delivery to prevent starvation and emphasized the need for an immediate ceasefire and the cessation of the Israeli occupation. They stated that achieving peace, safety, and stability for both Israelis and Palestinians lies in the realization of Palestinian self-determination.
It is important to note that special rapporteurs are independent experts who work on a voluntary basis and are not members of UN staff. They are part of the special procedures of the UN Human Rights Council.
The situation in Gaza is a humanitarian crisis that requires urgent attention and action from the international community. The suffering and potential loss of lives cannot be ignored, and immediate aid must be provided to alleviate the hunger and starvation faced by the people of Gaza.