The figures in this report are a shameful testament to the failure of world leaders to hold Israel to account for its use of starvation as a weapon of war.
In response to the latest Global Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) report published today, which warns that a high risk of famine persists across the Gaza Strip, Oxfam Ireland’s CEO Jim Clarken said:
“The official designation of a famine is a very technical and complicated exercise. What we do know for a fact is that 495,000 people are starving; 2.15 million people face acute food insecurity. That means that the lack of food is putting their lives in danger. Lives that we know are already in danger from bombs and ground assaults.
Just days ago, we learned that two more babies starved to death in Beit Lahiya.
We have seen the pictures of the dead infants and those just born who are barely alive.
We are now witnessing the world’s highest concentration of people in Al-Mawasi, a camp for the displaced and so-called humanitarian safe. Right now, Oxfam estimates there are 550,000 people in Al-Masawi alone and 1.7 million people crammed into 69 km2.
Drinking water is increasingly rare and unsafe and is accelerating the spread of disease. The hot summer sun beats down on people who have had to flee their homes so many times and who are literally running on empty.
The figures in this report are a shameful testament to the failure of world leaders to hold Israel to account for its use of starvation as a weapon of war. Every day without a ceasefire is another failure of the nations of the world to protect children.
We need a permanent ceasefire now. Israel must allow aid into and within Gaza, including through checkpoints. Humanitarian organisations like ourselves need all roads to be operational, sufficient fuel to be allowed into Gaza and safe access for people and aid.
This near famine is entirely man-made and entirely preventable. Oxfam is managing, through our partners in Gaza, to help over 400,000 people with life-saving aid. But it is not nearly enough. How long are we to watch babies be born with little chance of survival? We need to demand more of the Irish government, of the EU and the international community to stop this unfolding nightmare.
ENDS
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“The official designation of a famine is a very technical and complicated exercise. What we do know for a fact is that 495,000 people are starving; 2.15 million people face acute food insecurity. That means that the lack of food is putting their lives in danger. Lives that we know are already in danger from bombs and ground assaults.
