WHO chief says many Gaza residents are starving.
Emergency in Gaza: A Dire Hunger Crisis
On Wednesday, WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned that Gaza is experiencing a deadly surge in malnutrition‑related deaths. He described the situation as “mass starvation”, a man‑made catastrophe driven by a prolonged blockade.
Key Findings
- More than two million Gaza residents face severe shortages of food and essentials.
- Since the beginning of the year, 21 malnutrition deaths among children under five have been documented by the WHO, though the true number is likely higher.
- Over the last three days alone, 21 children died from starvation—an alarming spike highlighted by the head of Gaza’s largest hospital.
- Rate of global acute malnutrition exceeds 10 percent; over 20 percent of screened pregnant and breastfeeding women are severely malnourished.
A Man‑Made Hunger Crisis
Tedros stated that the collapse of aid pipelines and restrictions on access are accelerating the starvation crisis. He accused the blockade on Gaza as the primary cause of this man‑made famine.
Violence over Food Aid
The UN rights office reported that Israeli forces have killed more than 1,000 Palestinians attempting to receive food aid since May. 1,026 villagers were killed while trying to feed themselves or gather food, with thousands more wounded.
Calls for Action
WHO demanded full access to aid and a ceasefire, insisting on a lasting political solution to this humanitarian emergency.
Concluding Voice
Tedros urged that the hunger crisis is a man‑made catastrophe, insisting that full access to aid and a political solution are urgent and necessary.
