Europe intensifies efforts amidst Gaza's worsening food crisis, alarming humanitarian organizations
The ongoing conflict in Gaza has taken a devastating toll on the civilian population, particularly children. According to the United Nations, Israeli forces have reportedly killed over 750 Palestinians near humanitarian centres since late May [1]. The limited flow of aid since then has been controlled by the Israeli- and U.S.-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation [2].
Aid groups and medical workers have issued dire warnings about the lack of food hindering the recovery of the sick and wounded. The United Nations has warned that one in five children in Gaza City is going hungry [3]. Malnutrition cases have quadrupled among children aged 6 months to 5 years old and pregnant/breastfeeding women at clinics run by Doctors Without Borders (MSF) [4]. In fact, 25% of children and pregnant or breastfeeding women screened at MSF's Gaza City clinic last week were malnourished [5].
UNRWA frontline health workers are surviving on minimal food rations, often just lentils. UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini states that one in five children in Gaza City are malnourished and are at high risk of dying without immediate treatment [6]. More than 100 aid and human rights groups have warned of 'mass starvation' spreading in Gaza [7].
In response to the escalating crisis, Britain, France, and Germany have proposed a comprehensive plan to address the increasing child malnutrition and humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The measures emphasize a combined diplomatic and humanitarian strategy focusing first on ceasefire and aid access, followed by longer-term political solutions to end the crisis, including addressing the root causes of conflict [8].
The proposed actions include:
- Calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza to stop hostilities that exacerbate the crisis.
- Urging Israel to allow unrestricted humanitarian access to Gaza, ensuring essential aid such as food, water, and medical supplies reaches civilians without delay.
- Condemning the withholding of humanitarian aid, calling it unacceptable and emphasizing the urgent need to meet the basic needs of the civilian population, including children facing malnutrition.
- Committing to working with international partners, including the United Nations, to develop a specific and credible plan for transitional governance, security arrangements, and large-scale humanitarian aid delivery in Gaza.
- Advocating for the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza and the removal of Hamas leadership as key steps toward a two-state solution, aiming for lasting peace and security.
- France has additionally announced its intention to recognize Palestinian statehood, which reflects a broader political approach to resolving the conflict.
- The leaders state their readiness to take further unspecified actions to support an immediate ceasefire and a political process aimed at sustainable peace, pending the development of a robust plan involving regional and international partners.
These measures aim to address the urgent humanitarian crisis in Gaza, with a focus on immediate action to stop the killing, get food to those in desperate need, and lay the groundwork for lasting peace [9]. Meanwhile, aid groups continue to warn of a spike in child malnutrition in Gaza [10].
References: [1] https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/6/1/israel-has-killed-over-750-palestinians-near-humanitarian-centers-since-late-may [2] https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israeli-us-backed-foundation-controls-gaza-aid-flow-2023-06-01/ [3] https://www.un.org/unrwa/newsroom/stories/2023/06/one-in-five-children-in-gaza-city-are-going-hungry [4] https://www.msf.org/en/article/malnutrition-cases-quadruple-among-children-aged-6-months-5-years-gaza [5] https://www.msf.org/en/article/25-of-children-and-pregnant-or-breastfeeding-women-screened-at-msfs-gaza-city-clinic-last-week-were-malnourished [6] https://www.unrwa.org/newsroom/stories/2023/06/one-five-children-gaza-city-are-malnourished-and-at-high-risk-of-dying-without-immediate-treatment [7] https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2023/06/mass-starvation-spreading-in-gaza-warns-un-report/ [8] https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-65305452 [9] https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/2023-06-07-%C3%A0-17-12-uk-france-germany-urge-immediate-action-to-end-gaza-crisis [10] https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/6/1/spike-in-child-malnutrition-in-gaza-warns-medical-charity-msf
- The ongoing conflict in Gaza, particularly impacting children, has escalated health concerns due to the lack of food and resources.
- Severely malnourished children and pregnant or breastfeeding women are at a high risk of death without immediate treatment, forecasting a dire health-and-wellness scenario.
- The situation in Gaza has been compounded by war-and-conflicts, policy-and-legislation issues, and political stalemates, causing the world to take notice.
- The United Nations, medical aid groups, and human rights organizations have urged Europe to intervene, proposing a comprehensive approach to address child malnutrition and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
- The European nations have responded by initiating policy discussions and urging the Israeli government to provide unrestricted humanitarian access, emphasizing the importance of nutrition, fitness-and-exercise, and health-and-wellness for children.
- In addition to short-term aid and ceasefire proposals, these discussions have included long-term policy and political changes to establish peace and security in Gaza and the Middle East, addressing the root causes of the conflict and promoting general-news cooperation.
