UNRWA: One in five children in Gaza City malnourished
The serious food shortages in the Gaza Strip lead to more and more cases of malnutrition, reports the UN aid organization for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA). Among children in Gaza City, one in five would have to face malnutrition.
CEO Philippe Lazzarini says that the increase in malnutrition in children is accompanied by the “silent development of famine”. “Most children who see our teams are emaciated, weak and run a great risk of dying if they do not get the treatment they urgently need,” says a statement from the Commissioner General.
According to him, UNRWA care staff survive on a small meal a day, which often consists of “only lentils”. “If carers cannot find enough to eat, the entire humanitarian system collapses,” says Lazzarini. “Parents are too hungry to take care of their children.” According to him, families cannot survive.
The CEO calls for the unlimited and uninterrupted delivery of humanitarian aid from aid organizations. Israel has control over the border crossings with Gaza and determines which and how many goods are admitted. Unrwa says in Jordan and Egypt about 6000 truck loads to, among other things, food, medicines and other emergency aid.
The death toll due to malnutrition and starving in Gaza increases mainly in the last days. The local Ministry of Health reports on Thursday that the death toll has risen to 113. There are 81 children among the dead.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will today hold an emergency meeting in Jerusalem about the accusations that there is famine in Gaza, an Israeli official tells The Times of Israel.