‘The alternative is unthinkable’ – World must act to avert Gaza famine

The entire Gaza strip is at high risk of collapsing into famine

Despite weeks of desperate warnings, the long aid blockade in Gaza is pushing the already beleaguered population to a devastating human catastrophe.

The IPC says famine is not just possible but increasingly likely. 

Karol Balfe, ActionAid Ireland CEO said: "Today’s damning announcement that the entire Gaza strip is at high risk of collapsing into famine is a stain on humanity’s conscience, yet it comes as little surprise amid the Israeli authorities’ ongoing and deliberate refusal to allow any food or other life-saving aid into the territory.”

She said: “Our colleagues, partners and the women and girls we work with in Gaza tell us that the food situation is already utterly catastrophic and that even finding one meal a day is increasingly difficult.”

Thousands of children are being treated for acute malnutrition, and at least 57 people have reportedly starved to death since the total blockade started.

The Palestinian Authority has already declared the strip to be in famine.

Lina*, a mother in Gaza, described the lack of food in Gaza and the desperate coping mechanisms she and other families are forced to rely on to survive.

She said: “I can only describe the condition we live in as famine. Our pantry supplies and tinned foods are running out. Community kitchens have stopped operating. It breaks your heart when a child asks for a piece of fruit, and you can’t give them something as simple as a banana or an orange.

“With the food shortages, especially flour, we heavily rely on pasta; we soak it in water, we then drain and mix it the following day with a small amount of flour. That’s our way of trying to stretch the little flour we have left. 

“We survive on one meal a day. Each family member gets one pitta bread, which they can eat whenever they choose, we usually save it for lunch. We’d have some biscuits and tea in the morning. Our main meal is lunch, usually pasta or rice, but even those are becoming harder to find. Either they’re unavailable, or they’re too expensive."

"The international community must wake up to the severity of the situation and do everything in its power to pressure them to do so. We need urgent action to stop any more people starving to death, and a permanent end to the war, now – the alternative is unthinkable."