As Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip continue to escalate, the UN senior has warned that about half of Gaza's population is now considered "starving". Food shortages are worrying, and World Food Programme Deputy Executive Director Carl Scow has urged an immediate humanitarian ceasefire and more assistance.
According to Carl Scow, Deputy Executive Director of the United Nations World Food Programme, "There is not enough food in the Gaza Strip and people are starving. The WFP has helped more than a million people, but the situation is not sustainable. We need further, a humanitarian ceasefire. ”
He described in detail the crisis situation on the streets of North Gaza, saying that "nine out of 10 people did not eat every day". Two-thirds of the population in the south also reported the same situation, which is a worrying situation.
In a UN-run school shelter in the dilapidated Jabaliya refugee camp in the north, Mustafa Nigel said: "I am very hungry. We can only live on canned food and cookies, and that's not enough. ”
He stressed that adults may be able to tolerate it, but it is undoubtedly extremely difficult and painful when seeing young children cry due to hunger.
Not only have the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip been affected by food shortages, but the abducted Israelis have experienced first-hand the drastic deterioration of the food situation.
In addition, Adina Mosher, who was recently released, told thousands of people at a rally in Tel Aviv that they desperately wanted the remaining hostages to return home as soon as possible. "We end up eating rice," she said. "Moshe was held captive for 49 days during his abduction, during which time food** was extremely limited.
However, the international community's response to the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip remains challenging. Despite mounting international pressure, Joe Biden's in the United States remains opposed to an indefinite ceasefire, arguing that it will allow Hamas to continue to pose a threat to Israel. The U.S. veto frustrated the U.N. Security Council's efforts to call for an immediate ceasefire last Friday.
Israeli Defense Minister Yoaf Galant argued that "the ceasefire is awarding prizes to Hamas" and that Israel should not bow in the face of attacks by terrorist groups. However, this ongoing conflict and humanitarian crisis has caused immense suffering and hardship to the people of the Gaza Strip.
In the face of this dilemma, the international community needs to step up its assistance and call on all parties to cease hostilities. In addition to providing emergency food assistance, infrastructure, medical facilities and educational resources need to be rebuilt to help the people of the Gaza Strip rebuild their lives.
More importantly, the international community should seek a fundamental solution to the conflict. Long-term stability and security can be achieved only through dialogue, compromise and peaceful negotiations. The peace process between Israel and Palestine was urgent, and all parties should renounce violence, respect each other and work towards a common solution.