In northern Gaza, children are facing starvation, as reported by the World Health Organization (WHO) chief.
Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus mentioned the WHO’s recent visits to Al-Awda and Kamal Adwan hospitals, marking the first visits since early October.
He expressed concern over what he called “distressing discoveries.”
According to Dr. Tedros, the lack of food has led to the deaths of 10 children and severe malnutrition among others. Moreover, he highlighted the destruction of hospital buildings in the area.
Reports from Gaza’s health ministry confirmed the deaths of at least 15 children due to malnutrition and dehydration, with another child reported dead in Rafah.
Dr. Tedros described the situation in northern Gaza as dire, with approximately 300,000 people living in conditions marked by food and water scarcity.
He emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating, “The lack of food resulted in the deaths of 10 children,” in a social media post.
Grim findings during @WHO visits to Al-Awda and Kamal Adwan hospitals in northern #Gaza: severe levels of malnutrition, children dying of starvation, serious shortages of fuel, food and medical supplies, hospital buildings destroyed.
The visits over the weekend were the first… pic.twitter.com/CxaCuau7iR
— Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros) March 4, 2024
Despite efforts to gain regular access to northern Gaza, the WHO’s visits have been infrequent, Dr. Tedros lamented.
He particularly noted the appalling condition of Al-Awda Hospital, where one of the buildings has been destroyed.
Last week, the UN warned of an impending famine in Gaza, with hundreds of thousands facing food insecurity.
The dire situation has led to preventable deaths among children, according to aid agencies.
While humanitarian aid, including food drops, has been initiated by various countries, challenges persist in delivering aid efficiently.
Incidents involving aid delivery have sometimes resulted in casualties, further complicating relief efforts.
Additionally, aid agencies have faced obstacles from authorities, raising concerns about the accessibility of humanitarian assistance in Gaza.
The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas has exacerbated the humanitarian crisis, with thousands of casualties reported since October.
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