The United Nations has sounded the alarm on a severe malnutrition crisis gripping the Gaza Strip, saying that it is putting the lives of more than 60,000 children under the age of five at grave risk.
Sigrid Kaag, the UN envoy for the West Asia peace process, voiced alarm over the worsening health conditions of children in Gaza and called on Israel to allow humanitarian aid into the territory.
“We now know that more than 60,000 children under the age of five are suffering from malnutrition in Gaza. Each of these statistics represents a human life and a fight to survive,” Kaag was quoted as saying by the Anadolu Agency.
In a flagrant violation of international law, the Israeli regime has been obstructing the entry of vital aid into the besieged territory since March 2.
The unlawful action has exacerbated the already dire humanitarian crisis in the region, raising serious concerns among the international community and human rights organizations regarding the well-being of those affected.
According to Kaag, humanitarian workers are facing severe shortages in provisions and equipment needed for their operations, including fuel and other supplies needed to run hospitals.
She explained that their resources have been completely depleted, resulting in a breakdown in the distribution of humanitarian aid to the Palestinians trapped in Gaza.
The United Nations official highlighted that under international law, the Israeli regime is legally obligated to allow the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza.
She emphasized the urgent need to allow access to Gaza.
The UN official rebuked the Israeli regime officials for ordering the continuous attacks on Gaza.
She stated that the attacks not only affect the civilian population, comprised mostly of women and children, but also pose a horrific threat to humanitarian workers operating in the region.
Kaag said Israel’s attacks on Gaza are horrific not only for civilians but also for international aid workers, most of them Palestinian civilians.
The Israeli regime resumed its genocidal war on Gaza on March 18, shattering the 2-month ceasefire that took hold in January.
Since the brutal Israeli onslaught started in October 2023, more than 51,900 Palestinians, most of them women and children, have been killed in Gaza.
The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.
ICC has charged them for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.
The Israeli regime also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ).