With ‘catastrophic food insecurity’ in Gaza, WHO calls for ceasefire
The World Health Organization (WHO) is calling for an immediate ceasefire, saying the war in Gaza is causing “unimaginable suffering”.
In a statement shared online, the global health agency highlighted the case of seven-year-old Jana who suffers from severe acute malnutrition and dehydration and is one of 46 children who has been receiving treatment at a stabilisation centre.
The child was transferred for treatment from Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza to the International Medical Corps field hospital in the south.
“After more than 200 days of conflict, 1.1 million people are experiencing catastrophic food insecurity. The lack of food and safe drinking water has increased the spread of diseases,” WHO said on X.
Maritime corridor for aid doesn’t solve problems driving humanitarian crisis
Scott Paul, associate director of peace and security with OXFAM America, says a maritime corridor set up by the US transports aid still wouldn’t solve the fundamental problems that are driving Gaza’s humanitarian crisis.
“There is a separate question as to whether a mechanism like this is worth what it costs and worth the amount of political attention and political support that’s necessary to get it off the ground,” he said. “The alternative is, that same political pressure could be applied to make sure ground routes are open – which are more scalable, safer, able to transport much more assistance, more directly to people in need,” he said.
Hamas urges halt to airdrops of aid after another two people killed
Hamas has called for an end to airdrops of aid after two more Palestinians were killed in northern Gaza when an aid pallet crashed into a warehouse after its parachute failed to open.
Residents had gathered there to collect relief supplies. A total of 21 people have been killed due to airdrops of aid going wrong, according to the Hamas authorities.
“We reiterate that airdrops pose a real danger to the lives of citizens and do not provide a real solution to alleviate the food crisis plaguing northern Gaza,” Salama Marouf, head of the Government Media Office in Gaza, said in a statement.
She called for the land crossings to reopen so humanitarian aid could be delivered to northern Gaza, where food shortages are at their worst.
No aid has entered from southern border in two days: WFP director
In an update posted on X, the World Food Programme’s (WFP’s) country director for Palestine, Matthew Hollingworth, says the UN agency’s main warehouse in Rafah is now inaccessible.
No aid has entered from border crossings in southern Gaza in two days and only one bakery is still working, he said.
“Supplies of food and fuel in Gaza will only last 1-3 days. Without them, our operations will go into standstill.”
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