More than 100 organisations focused on humanitarian and rights work called on governments on Wednesday to take action as the famine spreads across the Gaza Strip, including calling for an immediate and permanent ceasefire and the lifting of all restrictions on humanitarian aid flows.
In a statement signed by 111 organizations including Mercy Corps, the Norwegian Refugee Council and Refugees International, the groups warned that mass starvation was spreading across the enclave while tons of food, clean water, medicine and other supplies remained untouched just outside Gaza because humanitarian organizations were blocked from accessing or delivering them.
“While the Israeli government's blockade deprives Gazans of food, aid workers are now standing in the same lines, risking being shot, to feed their families. With supplies completely depleted, aid agencies are watching their colleagues and partners melt away before their eyes,” the organizations said.
“The restrictions, delays and fragmentation of the Israeli government under total siege have led to chaos, hunger and death.”
The organisations called on governments to demand the lifting of all bureaucratic and administrative restrictions, the opening of all land crossings, access to all Gazans, an end to military-controlled aid distribution and the restoration of “principled UN-led humanitarian assistance”.
“States must take concrete measures to end the siege, such as stopping the supply of weapons and ammunition.”
Israel, which controls all supplies to Gaza, denies responsibility for the food shortages.
More than 800 people have died in recent weeks trying to reach food supplies, mostly in mass shootings by Israeli soldiers stationed near distribution centers of the Gaza Humanitarian Aid Fund. The US-backed fund has been sharply criticized by aid agencies, including the United Nations, for its alleged lack of neutrality.
Israeli security forces have killed nearly 60,000 Palestinians in airstrikes, shelling and shooting since launching an offensive on Gaza in response to attacks on Israel by Hamas in October 2023 that left 1,200 people dead and 251 hostages taken.
Palestinian officials say dozens of people are dying of starvation for the first time since the war began.
Food supplies in Gaza have been depleted since Israel cut off all supplies to the territory in March and then lifted the blockade in May, introducing new measures it says are necessary to prevent aid from being diverted to militants.
The Norwegian Refugee Council told Reuters on Tuesday that its humanitarian aid supplies in Gaza had been completely depleted and some of its staff were now starving, and the group accused Israel of paralysing its work.
Sourse: breakingnews.ie
