Assistance Provided to Gaza Region
The United Nations has raised alarm bells over a potential famine in the Gaza Strip, citing severe hunger crises and malnutrition exacerbated by the ongoing conflict and restrictions imposed by Israel.
Famine Conditions in Gaza
The situation in Gaza is dire. A third of its population is not eating for multiple days, with a quarter facing famine-like conditions. Almost 100,000 women and children suffer from severe acute malnutrition[1][2]. Reports indicate that 71,000 children and over 17,000 mothers need urgent treatment for acute malnutrition[1]. Daily, people are dying due to the lack of aid, with UN staff also experiencing hunger and exhaustion[2][3].
Obstacles to Aid Delivery
The delivery of aid to Gaza is fraught with obstacles. Human rights organizations have documented Israel's use of starvation as a weapon of war, including blocking water, food, and fuel deliveries, and impeding humanitarian assistance[1]. Amnesty International has reported deliberate conditions to bring about physical destruction[1]. The ongoing conflict has led to significant violence, including attacks on people seeking food, with over 1,000 Palestinians killed by the Israeli military while trying to access aid[3].
Despite having enough pre-positioned aid stocks, the UN faces challenges in delivering food due to the need for a ceasefire to ensure safe access[2]. The multi-stage approval process by the Israeli army is complex and is causing significant delays.
Aid Delivered, but Not Enough
Some aid has reportedly reached Gaza, according to UN statements. UN teams have been able to transport the aid into the coastal strip. However, UN partner organizations in Gaza, as well as the UN Emergency Relief Office, reported that the aid they have been able to bring into Gaza over the past two months is far from sufficient[4].
UN spokesman Farhan Haq emphasized that the approved quantities of aid are not enough to meet the survival needs of the people in Gaza. He refuted the Israeli portrayal that the UN is refusing to distribute food[5].
In light of these challenges, the UN is calling for Israel to allow more deliveries of aid to the Gaza Strip, stressing the urgent need for both an end to hostilities and improved access for aid delivery.
[1] https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2021/05/israel-gaza-conflict-unlawful-attacks-and-war-crimes/ [2] https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/5/20/gaza-un-warns-of-impending-famine-as-israeli-blockade-continues [3] https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israel-gaza-truce-talks-stall-over-hamas-demands-2021-05-20/ [4] https://www.un.org/unispal/document/auto-insert-211217 [5] https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/un-says-israel-is-not-refusing-to-distribute-food-to-gaza-2021-05-20/
- The UN's community policy and general news sections have been focused on the escalating famine crisis in Gaza, with science reporting highlighting the dire health-and-wellness repercussions of malnutrition on its population, particularly among women and children.
- In the midst of this crisis, employment policy discussions have centered around the obstacles facing aid delivery including Israel's restrictions and the complex multi-stage approval process, as well as the documented use of starvation as a weapon by Israeli forces.
- With medical-conditions worsening due to the lack of aid, the UN is under increased pressure to implement effective strategies and policies in politics to ensure timely delivery of essential resources to prevent further loss of life in the Gaza Strip.
