Over one million people in the Gaza Strip might face starvation by mid-July, according to new reports by the Food and Agriculture Organization and the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification.
The nutritional status of Gaza’s population continues to deteriorate, with children being among the hardest hit: nine out of 10 children are currently surviving on two or fewer food groups per day.
A fully fledged famine has not yet been declared, but several health and nutrition experts have warned that people in Gaza are already dying of hunger. “Once a famine is declared, it is too late – many people will have already starved to death,” said Cindy McCain, World Food Programme executive director.
Healthcare in Gaza continues to suffer daily attacks by the Israeli occupying forces. Most hospitals in southern Gaza have been put out of operation since Israeli forces increased attacks in the region.
The only two hospitals still able to function in Rafah – the International Committee of the Red Cross Field Hospital and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Field Hospital – are increasingly difficult to reach.
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To the north, the remaining hospitals are struggling to care for hundreds of victims of Israel’s attacks on refugee camps, schools and residential areas. In the first week of June, Al-Aqsa Hospital was barely coping with the influx of casualties.
The pressure on hospitals is unlikely to decrease as attacks continue and medical evacuations remain blocked. Between 7 May and 7 June, there were no health-related evacuations from the Gaza Strip. Before 7 May, less than 50% of the evacuation requests were approved, and only 38% of those approved actually took place. The others were not carried out due to security concerns, leaving at least 14,000 people in need of medical evacuation, according to the World Health Organization. – Peoples Dispatch/Globetrotter News Service
AGENDA RAKYAT - Lima perkara utama
- Tegakkan maruah serta kualiti kehidupan rakyat
- Galakkan pembangunan saksama, lestari serta tangani krisis alam sekitar
- Raikan kerencaman dan keterangkuman
- Selamatkan demokrasi dan angkatkan keluhuran undang-undang
- Lawan rasuah dan kronisme