In brief
A recent UN-backed report reveals a catastrophic famine in Gaza, where residents describe severe hunger and malnutrition affecting their children and families due to conflict and aid restrictions.
Residents of the Gaza Strip are grappling with the traumatic reality of famine as reported by the UN for the first time in history. This distressing news has been particularly heart-wrenching for families like that of Reem Tawfiq Khader, 41, a mother from Gaza City, who lamented, "The declaration of famine came too late, but it is still important." Many have not consumed any protein in months, and Khader poignantly noted that her youngest child, just four years old, has never experienced the taste or sight of fruits and vegetables.The UN highlights the significant role of Israel's aid restrictions impacting the humanitarian crisis, which Israel vehemently denies. However, over 100 humanitarian organizations and various UN agencies contest this denial, emphasizing the acute food insecurity affecting the population. The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) warned of a "man-made" famine, asserting that over half a million people are facing conditions of "starvation, destitution, and death."Health consequences of the famine are dire. Rajaa Talbeh, a mother of six, shared her personal ordeal of losing 25 kg (55 lbs) after being forced to flee her home due to conflict. Now living in a tent by the beach, she struggles with finding gluten-free food, crucial for her dietary needs. With no access to support, she expressed despair: "Isn't it enough to face daily bombardment, displacement, and living in a tent... and now famine on top of it?"Rida Hijeh, battling to feed her five-year-old daughter Lamia, noted her child's drastic weight loss attributed directly to the famine. "There is simply nothing for the child to eat," she lamented. Medical professionals report widespread malnutrition, with a British nurse, Mandy Blackman, stating that around 70% of mothers attending health clinics are clinically malnourished, leading to vulnerable newborn infants.The humanitarian crisis escalated as the ongoing military conflict, ignited by a Hamas attack on Israel on 7 October, has resulted in more than 62,000 fatalities in Gaza alone. According to the Hamas-run health ministry, at least 271 individuals, including children, have died from malnutrition-related causes since the beginning of the war.Aseel, another resident, shared that her weight has plummeted from 56 kg (123 lbs) to just 46 kg (101 lbs). Echoing the common struggle, she mentioned that finding baby formula has become a desperate chase, often costing as much as 180 shekels (£39) per can. "Like thousands of people, we live day by day," she concluded, reflecting the grim reality faced by many Gazans.
