One-Quarter of Gaza Population 'One Step Away from Famine', UN Says

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Ramesh Rajasingham, the coordination director at the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said that at least 576,000 people in the Gaza Strip are one step away from famine. The number equals one-quarter of the besieged population.

"Very little will be possible while hostilities continue and while there is a risk that they will spread into the overcrowded areas in the south of Gaza. We therefore reiterate our call for a ceasefire," said Rajasingham.

One in six children under age 2 in northern Gaza suffers from acute malnutrition and practically all the 2.3 million people in the Palestinian enclave rely on "woefully inadequate" food aid to survive.

Rajasingham said the UN and aid groups face "overwhelming obstacles just to get a bare minimum of supplies into Gaza." These include crossing closures, restrictions on movement and communication, onerous vetting procedures, unrest, damaged roads, and unexploded ordnance.

Israel's deputy UN Ambassador Jonathan Miller claimed that Israel is committed to improving the humanitarian situation in Gaza. He reasoned that the limitations on the quantity and pace of aid are dependent on the capacity of the UN and other agencies.

"Israel has been clear in its policies. There is absolutely no limit, and I repeat, there is no limit to the amount of humanitarian aid that can be sent to the civilian population of Gaza," Miller told the Security Council.

Meanwhile, Deputy US Ambassador to the U.N. Robert Wood urged its ally Israel to keep border crossings open for humanitarian aid deliveries to Gaza and to facilitate the opening of more crossings. Wood claimed that the US “continues to call on Israel to improve deconfliction procedures to ensure aid can move safely and securely."

On the other hand, The World Food Programme Deputy Executive Director Carl Skau said that the WFP was ready to swiftly expand and scale up its operations if there is a ceasefire agreement.

REUTERS

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