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Food markets stand empty, human waste piles up, and illnesses spread as people in Gaza “collapse on the streets from hunger and dehydration.” This grim reality was underscored Wednesday by a stark warning from over 100 international humanitarian organizations. In a joint statement, they called on Israel to end its blockade, fully restore the flow of essential supplies, and agree to a ceasefire.
“Every day without a sustained flow of aid means more people dying of preventable illnesses,” the statement read, bearing signatures from Doctors Without Borders, Save the Children, the Norwegian Refugee Council, and many others. “Children starve while waiting for promises that never arrive.”
The Palestinian health ministry reports that scores of people, predominantly children, have died from malnutrition since the conflict began in October 2023. Israel has previously blamed Hamas for aid shipment disruptions, alleging the militant group steals supplies. Hamas denies these claims.
While Israel asserts it is permitting ample aid, aid agencies and several Western nations contend that the amount of food reaching Gaza’s population, under strict Israeli control, is far below what is needed. The United Nations World Food Program has issued warnings of impending famine, noting that 70,000 children in Gaza require immediate treatment for acute malnutrition.
