Gaza Palestinians Face Famine Risk As UNWRA Appeals for Aid

The UN's concerns were underscored by footage from the AFP news agency, showing distressed individuals lining up for food in Gaza's ravaged north and staging protests against their deplorable living conditions.

The situation is desperate, lamented Jabalia resident Ahmad Atef Safi, highlighting the desperation gripping the region. "Where are we supposed to go?"

Fellow Jabalia resident Oum Wajdi Salha echoed Safi's sentiments, stating, "We have no water, no flour, and we are very tired because of hunger. Our backs and eyes hurt because of fire and smoke. We can’t stand on our feet because of hunger and lack of food."

The UN's Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) issued a grave statement on Friday, underscoring the urgent need for food, water, health, and nutrition services in Gaza. It warned that the risk of famine in Gaza, already high, is projected to worsen without immediate intervention.

Meanwhile, a Gaza doctor, who received his medical training in Ukraine, highlighted the stark differences between the two war-torn regions. Dr. Musa Abdul Khaliq, a resident of Deir el-Balah, described the challenges faced at al-Aqsa Hospital, where he is forced to make life-or-death decisions due to critical shortages, including a lack of anaesthetic.

"I served almost one year at Ukrainian hospitals," Dr. Khaliq explained. "The situation in Gaza is totally different. From day one of this war till this hour, the Israeli forces are wreaking havoc, killing, and destroying Gazans. We are flooded with dead bodies and critically wounded Palestinians. In Ukraine, hospitals are numerous, large, and well-equipped, leading to higher survival rates for both medical staff and patients. In Gaza, it is completely the opposite."

As the humanitarian crisis in Gaza worsens, urgent international action is needed to prevent a devastating famine and alleviate the suffering of Palestinians caught in the conflict.