Two months into Israel’s full blockade of aid to Gaza, humanitarian workers are witnessing harrowing scenes: children are starving, and people are resorting to fighting over dwindling water supplies. Aid operations are now described as being on the “verge of total collapse.”
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The United Nations and the Red Cross have raised urgent alarms about the humanitarian crisis unfolding in this war-torn territory, calling for immediate global intervention. “The humanitarian response in Gaza is on the verge of total collapse,” warned the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). “Without immediate action, Gaza will slip further into chaos that humanitarian efforts will not be able to mitigate.”
The ceasefire that had significantly reduced hostilities after 15 months of conflict came to an end on March 2, coinciding with the suspension of aid deliveries into Gaza. Since that date, the UN has repeatedly highlighted the impending humanitarian catastrophe, with famine once again becoming a grim reality.
The UN’s World Food Programme (WFP) recently indicated that it has exhausted its “last remaining food stocks.” Olga Cherevko, a spokesperson for the UN humanitarian agency OCHA, detailed the gravity of the situation: “Food stocks have now mainly run out. Community kitchens are shutting down, leading to more people going hungry.” Tragically, reports have emerged of children and vulnerable individuals succumbing to malnutrition due to the lack of food. “The blockade is deadly,” she underscored.
Water accessibility is also spiraling out of control. “As I speak to you, just downstairs from this building, people are fighting for water. A water truck just arrived, and people are killing each other over it,” she reported. The dire situation was illustrated further when she described hearing of individuals “burning from the explosions, with no water to save them.”
At the same time, hospitals in Gaza are reporting critical shortages of blood, as mass casualties continue to overwhelm their capacity. “Gaza lies in ruins; rubble fills the streets,” Cherevko lamented. “Many nights, the blood-curdling screams of the injured pierce the skies following the deafening sound of another explosion.”
The mass displacement of civilians is another pressing crisis, with nearly the entire population of Gaza being forced to relocate multiple times prior to the brief ceasefire. Since hostilities resumed, over 420,000 people have been uprooted once again, with many arriving in overcrowded shelters often at risk of bombardment. “Civilians in Gaza are facing an overwhelming daily struggle to survive,” cautioned Pascal Hundt, the ICRC’s deputy head of operations.
Mike Ryan, the World Health Organization’s emergencies director, condemned the situation as an “abomination.” He emphasized the tragic toll on the younger population, stating, “We are breaking the bodies and the minds of the children of Gaza. We are starving the children of Gaza.”
Cherevko criticized global leaders for their inaction in the face of such horror: “Decision-makers have sat in silence, watching the relentless scenes of bloodied children and grieving families move swiftly across their screens, month after month.” She posed a poignant question: “How much more blood must be spilled before enough is enough?”
In a separate incident, a ship carrying humanitarian aid and activists towards Gaza was reportedly struck by drones while in international waters off the coast of Malta. Fortunately, all individuals on board have been reported safe following a rescue operation. The Freedom Flotilla Coalition, an international NGO, released footage showing a fire aboard their ship named Conscience and accused Israel of being involved. “Israeli ambassadors must be summoned and held accountable for violations of international law, including the ongoing blockade and the attack on our civilian vessel,” they stated.
The Maltese government responded to a mayday call from the vessel, confirming that it was outside territorial waters and had 16 people on board. After several hours, all were secure. Earlier reports indicated that the vessel had been at risk of sinking with 30 international human rights activists aboard, all campaigning to end Israel’s blockade of Gaza.
In past instances, similar “freedom flotilla” efforts have turned deadly, notably in 2010, when Israeli forces stormed the Mavi Marmara, resulting in the deaths of ten individuals and injuries to 28 others. Following Hamas’s attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, which initiated the current war, at least 1,218 people, primarily civilians, have been reported dead. Hamas-run Gaza has witnessed over 2,326 fatalities since Israel resumed strikes in March, culminating in a staggering total death toll of 52,418 since the conflict reignited.
“In times of dire need, humanity must unite,” as a rallying call reminds us all.
Edited By Ali Musa
Axadle Times International – Monitoring.
