100+ NGOs sound alarm: mass starvation takes over Gaza
Gaza’s Humanitarian Crisis Escalates: Aid Shortages, Ceasefire Appeals
Mass Starvation Threats in Gaza
More than two million Gazans are confronting severe shortages of food and other life‑essential supplies after 21 months of conflict. According to a wide‑signature report from 111 aid organisations—including Doctors Without Borders, Save the Children, and Oxfam—“mass starvation” is spreading across the territory. The organisations’ call for an urgent ceasefire, the opening of all land crossings, and the free flow of aid through UN‑led mechanisms underscores the gravity of the situation.
UN‑Led System sidelined by Israeli Operations
The United Nations highlighted the deadly impact of Israeli forces on aid operations: since the launch of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation in late May, over 1,000 Palestinians have been killed while attempting to secure food aid. This effectively sidelined the existing UN‑led system and intensified the blockade’s humanitarian toll.
Call for Immediate Action
- Negotiated Ceasefire: The signatories demand an immediate negotiated ceasefire to halt further casualties.
- Freedom of Aid: The opening of all land crossings and the unrestricted flow of aid through UN‑led mechanisms are imperative.
- Support for Humanitarians: The statement insists that humanitarians cannot operate on shifting timelines or rely on unfulfilled political commitments.
US Envoy’s Upcoming Visit
Steve Witkoff, the United States’s top envoy, is scheduled to travel to Europe this week to address the Gaza crisis. The State Department anticipates discussions on a possible ceasefire and an aid corridor, hoping for a new humanitarian corridor that both sides have agreed upon. This visit reflects the growing international pressure for a resolution to the humanitarian emergency.
Continued Suffering Amid Potential Blockade Easing
Even after Israel began easing the blockade in late May, the Gaza population is still grappling with extreme scarcities. Israel asserts that humanitarian aid is entering Gaza, while accusing Hamas of exploiting civilian suffering: stealing food handouts for profit and shooting at aid recipients.
Statement Highlighting Hope and Heartbreak
The humanitarian organizations warned that warehouses holding tonnes of supplies were sitting untouched outside and inside the territory, blocked from accessing or delivering the goods. The statement described the situation as a cycle of hope and heartbreak:
- Hope: Awaiting assistance and possible ceasefires.
- Heartbreak: Worsening conditions despite promises.
Psychological and Physical Torment
Palestinians are trapped in a psychological torment where survival is dangled like a mirage. The humanitarian system cannot sustain on false promises, and humanitarians cannot wait for political commitments that fail to provide access.
UN Secretary‑General’s Statement
Antonio Guterres said that the “horror facing Palestinians in Gaza under Israeli military attack” is unprecedented in recent years. Compounding the crisis, the head of Gaza’s largest hospital reported that 21 children had died due to malnutrition and starvation in the past three days.
Standstill in Negotiations
Israel and Hamas have been negotiating in Doha since July 6, with mediators from Qatar, Egypt, and the United States trying to end the war. Despite over two weeks of talks, the efforts remain at a standstill. Western countries have demanded an immediate end to the conflict, citing that suffering in Gaza has “reached new depths.”
Casualty Figures
- Israel’s campaign in Gaza: 59,106 Palestinians killed, mostly civilians, according to the Hamas‑run health ministry.
- Hamas’s October 7 attack on Israel: 1,219 people killed, most of them civilians, per AFP’s tally based on official figures.
As the international community intensifies pressure, the urgent plea for ceasefire, humanitarian access, and the freedom for aid to flow remains central to the path toward alleviating the crisis in Gaza.
