‘Catastrophic’: Aid groups sound alarm on mass starvation in Gaza

Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza - The World Health Organization warns of a growing humanitarian crisis in Gaza, with a large proportion of the population facing starvation [1] - Aid groups, including Doctors Without Borders, report a surge in malnutrition cases, with a four-fold increase in patients enrolled in malnutrition programs in the last two months [2][4] - A primary healthcare center is enrolling 25 new malnourished patients every day, indicating a catastrophic situation [5] - Healthcare workers in Gaza are experiencing hunger, with some going without food for 24-48 hours, impacting their ability to support the healthcare system [5][6] Aid and Access Obstacles - Aid organizations report that the blockade and restrictions on aid distribution are contributing to the starvation [1][2] - There are reports of people being shot and killed while trying to access aid, hindering efforts to provide food to those in need [9][11] - The Gaza strip is exceptionally small, and food is available a few kilometers away, indicating that the deprivation of food is a deliberate choice [10] Allegations of Strategy - Some observers suggest that the restrictions on aid and the targeting of people seeking assistance may be a deliberate strategy [8][9] - Doctors Without Borders describes the situation as part of a "genocidal campaign" by Israeli authorities on the people of Gaza [12] - The cost of the very little food that is left in the markets is so excessively expensive that even people with a salary cannot feed themselves and their family every single day [14]