Recent humanitarian assistance has mitigated the looming famine threat in Gaza, thanks to the influx of aid during a tenuous ceasefire, as per the United Nations humanitarian chief. However, the situation remains precarious, with the danger of famine resurfacing should the ceasefire unravel.
Following a visit to Gaza, Tom Fletcher reported significant humanitarian support entering the region since the ceasefire's initiation on January 19. During discussions with The Associated Press in Cairo, he expressed optimism, saying, The famine threat has largely been mitigated, reducing starvation levels from their previous heights.
Yet, the concern persists over the ceasefire's stability, currently in its six-week first phase, with efforts underway to negotiate the more complex second stage. Part of the ceasefire deal involved Israel permitting 600 humanitarian aid trucks into Gaza daily, a considerable increase that eases long-standing frustrations due to obstacles in aid delivery and distribution.
To date, over 12,600 aid trucks have successfully entered Gaza since the truce began, according to the U.N. humanitarian office. Fletcher stressed the importance for both Hamas, who swiftly regained control post-ceasefire, and Israel to adhere to this life-saving agreement.
Conditions remain dire, and hunger persists, he stated. A collapse of the ceasefire would likely revert Gaza to the famine-like conditions experienced prior. The internationally recognized benchmark for famine denotes two or more deaths daily per 10,000 individuals.
Previously, food security experts and U.N. officials warned about the famine possibility within Gaza, predominantly in the northern areas isolated in the early stages of the 16-month conflict. Luckily, the ceasefire has enabled hundreds of thousands to return north.
Cindy McCain, the U.N. World Food Program’s American director, highlighted the urgency, stating the necessity of aid, lest we allow these people to starve to death. In December, the Biden administration applied pressure on Israel to enhance aid access, cautioning that insufficient aid flow could lead to U.S. military aid restrictions.
Fletcher emphasized the ongoing need for food and medical supplies in the over two million populace, primarily displaced. He voiced concerns over the potential for disease outbreaks from inadequate health supplies, while advocating for increased tent and shelter delivery, given the harsh winter conditions.
We urgently need tens of thousands of tents for those returning, notably in the north, to provide shelter from the elements, he advised.
Having entered Gaza through the Erez crossing, Fletcher observed the extent of devastation, stating, The line between schools, hospitals, and homes is indiscernible in the north; it's all bombed-out. He described scenes of loss, with residents attempting to locate their homes and retrieving deceased family members from the debris, alongside dogs searching for corpses.
It resembles a horror movie, utterly heartbreaking, he lamented. The same devastation stretches for miles on end. Fletcher acknowledged the resentment felt by some Palestinians towards the international response to their plight but also noted their resilience. There is a palpable anger and a sense of betrayal by the global community, he commented. Yet, there is determination too; a resolve to reclaim and rebuild ancestral homes.
