Gaza: The UN agency for Palestinian refugees has issued a stark warning that over 1 million women and girls in the Gaza Strip are facing mass starvation due to Israel's prolonged blockade and the ongoing devastating conflict in the region.
According to Philippines News Agency, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) highlighted the dire circumstances in a post on the US social media platform X. The agency noted that these women and girls are enduring severe food shortages, violence, and abuse, and are being forced into perilous situations in their struggle for survival. Many are risking their lives by venturing out in search of basic necessities like food and water.
UNRWA has urged for the immediate lifting of the blockade on Gaza and called for a large-scale humanitarian aid intervention to address the escalating crisis. The situation has been described as one of the worst humanitarian crises in Gaza's history, with famine adding to the already dire conflict conditions.
Since March 2, Israel has sealed off all crossings into Gaza, effectively blocking essential humanitarian aid despite thousands of trucks waiting at the border. The limited supplies that have been allowed into the territory are insufficient to meet the urgent needs of the population, leaving many in Gaza in a desperate struggle for survival.
The UN World Food Program had previously sounded the alarm, reporting that one-third of Gaza's 2.4 million residents had experienced prolonged periods without access to food. The ongoing military actions have resulted in the deaths of nearly 61,900 Palestinians since October 2023, further exacerbating the humanitarian disaster.
In response to the situation, the International Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, charging them with war crimes and crimes against humanity. Additionally, Israel is currently facing a genocide case at the International Court of Justice concerning its actions in Gaza.
