Gaza - Saba:
Dr. Mohammed Abu Afash, director of the Palestinian Medical Relief Society in Gaza City, confirmed that Gaza is experiencing a "full-blown famine" according to United Nations standards, after exceeding three basic indicators. He warned of a "mass death" threatening women and children.
Abu Afash listed these criteria to the Palestine Online website yesterday: severe food insecurity, high rates of malnutrition, and a rising death rate associated with hunger, which is killing 2.4 million people.
He explained that more than 90% of Gaza's population cannot secure a balanced meal per day, while hundreds of thousands of families survive on one meal every 48 hours, often consisting of flour, boiled water, or cooked leaves.
He also addressed the collapse of supply chains (agricultural, livestock, and food) and their lack in local markets, along with the lack of electricity and potable water.
Al-Afash explained the impact of the ongoing famine, which has lasted for 150 days, on children in Gaza, who suffer from severe malnutrition, weakened immunity, dehydration, and a high death rate among infants and the elderly due to direct starvation or related diseases.
Not only children, but pregnant women also lack adequate nutrition, leading to miscarriages, premature births, and low-birth-weight babies.
According to government data, the number of victims of the famine has risen to 154, including 89 children.
He reported that more than 55,000 pregnant women and more than 60,000 infants are living without adequate nutrition or healthcare due to the famine and the occupation's prevention of the entry of health supplies and nutritional requirements for children.
He explained that this has clearly affected the condition of newborns and infants, including severe underweight and underweight for their age, severe dehydration, especially in displacement areas, chronic diarrhea and vitamin deficiencies, the spread of skin rashes and respiratory infections, and the inability of many mothers to breastfeed due to malnutrition.
Since March 2, the Israeli enemy army has imposed a strict military siege on all crossings and outlets of the Gaza Strip.
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