Civil Defense spokesman in the Gaza Strip, Major Mahmoud Basal, said that death from famine in the Strip is occurring "gradually," warning that thousands of children are at risk of death due to the lack of food and the bare necessities of life.
In an interview with Al Jazeera, the spokesman emphasized that Mustafa Muhammad Yassin, who died as a result of malnutrition, is not the first such case, noting that "thousands of children have already died or are at risk of dying as a result of this tragic reality."
He explained that premature babies and infants are the first to fall victim to hunger, followed by older children, whose bodies are unable to withstand the effects of famine. He noted that adults and those with chronic illnesses suffer the same fate.
The Ministry of Health in Gaza had previously announced the death of child Mustafa Yassin due to starvation and dehydration. Meanwhile, Palestinian Health Minister Majed Abu Ramadan confirmed the deaths of 29 children and elderly people in two days, amid warnings of the potential death of 14,000 infants if urgent aid is not delivered.
Basal pointed out that the Gaza Strip is suffering from a complete closure of its crossings, while aid is entering in a "drop by drop" manner. He emphasized that the trucks entering do not meet even the bare minimum requirements for daily life, as the Strip's needs exceed 600 trucks per day under normal circumstances, while it needs 1,000 trucks per day under current circumstances.
He pointed out that the Israeli occupation has allowed between 90 and 100 trucks to enter Gaza, but distribution is proceeding in a chaotic and disorganized manner, and aid is not reaching those who deserve it, as was the case previously when UNRWA was in charge of the distribution process.
Unacceptable mechanism
Major Mahmoud strongly criticized the aid distribution mechanisms, explaining that flour is not delivered directly to bakeries or families, but rather that the World Food Organization distributes pre-packaged bread. He considered this mechanism "unacceptable" and inconsistent with the harsh reality facing the population.
He explained that citizens rushed to bakeries to obtain bread, or even pre-kneaded flour, in a scene that reflected the extent of the suffering. He said that most families did not receive a single sack of flour, noting that areas in the northern Gaza Strip had not received any aid.
He also pointed to the presence of what he described as "criminals" in some areas who monopolize aid or coordinate with the occupation to achieve private gains, deepening the crisis and exacerbating the humanitarian situation.
He stressed the need to hand over aid to neutral international bodies such as UNRWA for distribution to families, as was the case before, warning that the occupation was seeking to spread chaos by disrupting the distribution process and keeping the situation out of control.
The Civil Defense spokesman in Gaza called for urgent action by the United Nations and the World Food Organization to reactivate previous aid distribution mechanisms and ensure that aid reaches every household. He noted that the need is not limited to food alone, but also includes the most basic necessities of life under the stifling blockade.
שתף את דעתך
Civil Defense in Gaza: Death from famine is gradual and thousands of children are threatened.