Rabat — As the situation in the enclave of Gaza worsens, the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) announced Monday that it receives “desperate messages reporting famine” from some of its staff in the genocide-torn city.
The UN and aid groups regularly report famine risks in the Palestinian territory, which Israel has been targeting with a genocidal ethnic cleansing for more than 21 months.
Doctors, Gaza’s Civil Defense, and the aid group Doctors Without Borders reported a sharp rise in malnutrition cases in recent days within devastated Gaza.
UNRWA posted on X Monday that shortages in Gaza have driven food prices up by 40 times their normal cost.
“Lift the siege and let humanitarian aid enter safely and at scale,” the UN organization pleaded, adding that it has stockpiles outside Gaza that could feed more than two million Gazans for over three months.
On Sunday, the UN agency accused Israeli authorities of weaponizing food as a means of war against the Gazan population.
Philippe Lazzarini UNRWA’s Commissioner-General deplored that the agency has been denied access to deliver food into Gaza since March 2.
“Food is available only a few kilometers away. UNRWA alone has enough stock available outside of Gaza for the entire population for the next 3 months,” Lazzarini said.
The Health Ministry in Gaza reported that 18 people, including children, died of starvation in 24 hours between Saturday and Sunday, bringing the number of famine victims to 86 Palestinians, including 76 children.
International calls to end the Israeli siege of Gaza
Today, 26 international countries have signed a joint statement condemning the criminal actions of the Israeli government against civilians in Gaza. The countries, including the UK, called on Israel to promptly call off its heinous use of starvation as a weapon against Gazans.
The signatories said that they have one simple, urgent message that Israel’s genocide on Gaza must end now.
“We condemn the drip feeding of aid and the inhumane killing of civilians, including children, seeking to meet their most basic needs of water and food. It is horrifying that over 800 Palestinians have been killed while seeking aid.”
The statement also urged Israel to abide by international humanitarian law.
