Gaza Enters Fifth Phase of Famine as Israel Continues to Block Aid for Third Month
Gaza (Quds News Network)- Gaza has entered the fifth phase of famine, according to Moneer Al-Boursh, the General Director of the Ministry of Health. This phase poses the greatest danger to the lives of residents and means witnessing cases of mass deaths. The Israeli blockade continues to prevent essential supplies of food, medicine, and water from entering the strip.
“We have seen a doubling in child mortality under the age of five, rising from 13 deaths per 1,000 children to 32 per 1,00”, Al-Boursh said. “We call on the UN Security Council to declare a state of famine in Gaza and to open humanitarian corridors to deliver food and medicine.”
Earlier this morning, baby girl named Janan Saleh al-Sakafi had died of malnutrition and dehydration at Rantisi Hospital, west of Gaza City. Since the onset of the ongoing Israeli genocide in October 2023, 57 people have died from malnutrition, as reported by Gaza’s Government Media Office.
The medical community in Gaza warns that the situation is critical. Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis stated that children are experiencing severe malnutrition, making medical follow-up difficult due to a lack of treatment supplies. The ongoing blockade indicates a catastrophic future for the children of Gaza.
Since March 2, Israel has closed Gaza’s main crossings, halting the flow of food, medical aid, and all humanitarian supplies. This blockade has led to a severe decline in living conditions. Human rights organizations stress that Israel uses starvation as a weapon of war against the Palestinian people.
The situation escalated further when Israel resumed its attacks on Gaza on March 18, violating a ceasefire agreement. Over 2,200 Palestinians have died, and more than 5,700 have been injured, with children and women bearing the brunt of the Israeli attacks.
The United Nations has repeatedly warned of a looming humanitarian catastrophe, stating that Gaza is on the brink of “full-scale famine conditions.” Philippe Lazzarini, head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), highlighted that the Israeli siege collectively punishes children, women, and the elderly.
The UN’s World Food Programme reported last week that its food supplies have been “depleted” amid the siege. Community kitchens, vital for thousands of Palestinians, face closure. Hundreds of thousands of people in Gaza are experiencing high levels of food insecurity, according to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC).
