The ongoing conflict in Gaza has led to a “full-blown famine” in the northern part of the region, according to Cindy McCain, executive director of the World Food Programme. This information is based on what WFP employees have witnessed in the area. While it is not an official declaration of famine, the severity of the situation cannot be ignored.
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs has stated that it may take up to three years to retrieve the bodies of those killed in the conflict due to the extensive damage. The crisis has led to severe food shortages, with reports of people in north Gaza resorting to eating grass and animal feed. The Gaza Health Ministry has reported at least 32 deaths from malnutrition and dehydration, with 28 of them being children.
Israeli officials have been accused of using starvation as a weapon of war by restricting humanitarian aid shipments and creating long waits at checkpoints. The situation is dire, with humanitarian organizations struggling to provide assistance to those in need. The suffering in Gaza continues to escalate, underscoring the urgent need for a resolution to the conflict.