ALWAGHT- Tom Fletcher, UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, has raised alarm over Gaza’s worsening crisis, warning that one in three people hasn't eaten in days and children are “wasting away” due to severe food shortages.
UN Under-Secretary-General Tom Fletcher highlighted the dire humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where people seeking food aid face attacks and children are severely suffering from hunger. He emphasized that aid must not be blocked, delayed, or distributed under fire, calling for swift permission for aid convoys and protection of distribution sites.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the use of hunger as a deliberate weapon in the conflict, stressing that it fuels instability and must never be accepted. He pointed to the ongoing famine caused by Israel’s blockade, which has sealed all border crossings into Gaza since October 2023, cutting off essential food and medical supplies.
The blockade and conflict have led to severe malnutrition and famine, with over 130 Palestinians, including many children, dying from starvation-related causes. Agencies like UNRWA and WHO report alarming increases in child malnutrition, with roughly one in five children under five in Gaza City affected. Since the war began, nearly 60,000 Palestinians have been killed, and over 140,000 injured, mostly women and children.
