Starvation in the Gaza Strip has now taken a terrible form. Due to the Israeli blockade, there is a severe shortage of food items and essential medicines, due to which dozens of people, including many children, have lost their lives in the last 3 weeks. The situation in Gaza City’s Patients Friends Hospital is so bad that doctors are not able to provide the necessary medicines and nutritious food to save the children. Last week, the situation became even more worrying, when in just 4 days, 5 small children died due to starvation. None of these children were already suffering from any serious disease, yet due to lack of nutrition, their condition deteriorated so much that they could not be saved.
“Due to weakness, children are unable to even cry”
Dr. Rana Soboh, a nutritionist at the hospital, while describing the terrible conditions in Gaza, said, “Children have become so weak that they are unable to cry or move. Earlier, some children were cured with treatment, but now the situation is worse. This is a disaster. Children are dying of hunger in front of the world. Nothing can be worse than this.”
According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, a total of 48 people have died of starvation in the last three weeks, which include 20 children and 28 adults. The United Nations (UN) has also said that so far this year 21 children have died of starvation.
Innocents die due to lack of medicines
The UN’s World Food Program says that nearly one lakh women and children need immediate treatment, but this is not possible due to the lack of medicines and food. Every day 200 to 300 children are coming to the Patients Friends Hospital for treatment. Dr Rana also said that the hospital staff is also hungry and 2 nurses had to be given drip for energy.
Four of the five children who died last week died of gastric arrest because the nutritious food they needed was not available. The fifth child, Sivar, who was four and a half years old, had a severe deficiency of potassium in her body. Due to lack of medicines, she also died in the ICU three days later.
Adults are also victims of starvation
. This tragedy is not limited to children only, adults are also becoming victims of starvation. The condition of 2-year-old Yazan Abu Ful, who lives in a refugee camp, is also very bad. His mother Naima said that Yazan’s body has become so weak that his bones are clearly visible. The family has nothing to eat, and they are surviving for many days by boiling 2 brinjals bought for 9 dollars (about ₹ 750) in water. Yazan’s father Mahmood said in a pained voice, “The doctor says give me food, but I say there is no food. Our child is slowly slipping out of our hands.”
Dr. Mohammad Abu Selmiya, director of Gaza City’s Shifa Hospital, said two adult bodies arrived on Thursday with clear signs of starvation.
“If this doesn’t stop, the situation will get even worse”
Israel completely cut off the supply of food, medicine and fuel to Gaza in March, worsening the situation. Some relief was provided in May, but according to the UN, 500-600 truckloads of aid materials are needed every day, while currently only 69 trucks are arriving.
Israel says Hamas is looting aid, but the UN and aid organizations deny the accusation. They say the looting can stop if aid flows freely without hindrance. “The cycle of starvation deaths has already begun in Gaza. If this does not stop, the situation will become even worse,” warned Dr. John Kahler, co-founder of MedGlobal.