The humanitarian situation In Gaza It is reaching extreme limits almost two years after the beginning of the war between Israel and Hamas. Being a mother (or grandmother) of a baby is to face the impossible: There is no milk, food, or shelter. UNICEF denounces severe risks as infections, suffocation and dehydration. In the middle of a devastating faminefood improvisations become A risk that threatens thousands of children.
UNICEF warned that lack of access to adequate food and the health crisis are leading to Thousands of children to critical situations of severe malnutrition. Given the shortage, Mothers grind chickpeas, bread or rice to feed their children, but Salim Oweis, spokesman for the organization, warned the Reuters agency These practices only aggravate the health of babies.
The shortage of children’s formula and the impossibility of breastfeeding due to the Mothers malnutrition further complicate the survival of newborns. The organization warns that homemade alternatives and improvised mixtures, which often do not have essential nutrients, are putting the health of the little ones in serious danger, generating infections, dehydration and other complications that can be mortal.
The Testimonies collected by Reuters They reflect this heartbreaking reality. In a precarious store next to the coast of Gaza, a baby cries without comfort. Has three months And his family feeds him all he has: Water casting soup. Without milk powder, without breast milk, without sugar or formula, the baby receives a warm liquid, without nutrients. “By God, DoctorI raised eight children. They told me that during the first six months you could not give the baby or herbs, nor anise, not even water. And now what do I do? He is orphan … he has not three months ”laments Nemah Hamoudadisplaced from Beit Lahiya, grandmother of the little Muntaha.
The scene is tragically common. In the midst of humanitarian collapse, families turn to breadcrumbs, herbal infusions or diluted tahina for feed the little ones. The children’s formula, when it appears on the black market, exceeds 100 dollars. “When we receive community dining room lentil soup, I stamped the water and I give it to him. What else can I do? ”Hamouda repeats. “I speak to you and I swear: I’m hungry. And that I am an old woman. What will be of these boys?
Full hospitals, empty stomachs
In the hospital Al-Aqsa, Pediatric beds are occupied by visibly malnourished babies, As published by Reuters. Skin attached to bone, lethargy, sunken eyes. Azhar Imad tells that he tries to give his daughter Tahina with water, phenogreco or anisebut “it only gets more sick.” Amna Awad, mother of little Mohammed, recounts with anguish: “I toured the entire hospital looking for a formula can. They told me: There is no milk. I give him Water, or oral serum so that it does not dehydrate. Let’s grind Pasta or lentils to thicken the water, but that hurts it. ”
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The doctor Khalil Daqranpediatrician of the Al-Aqsa hospital, expresses the seriousness of the situation: “We have thousands of children falling into severe malnutrition because There is no child milk. “ In addition, he explains that the Lack of food for mothers hinders breastfeeding and that, if the crisis continues, the death of Many babies will be inevitable.
The situation is so extreme that the main international food security observatory He already speaks openly of famine. Gaza health authorities report at least 154 deaths related to malnutrition, of which 89 are children.
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Israel announced measures to Allow the entry of humanitarian aidbut both the UN and the World Food Program denounce that The permits still do not arrive. Milk is, today, an unattainable resource in Gaza. The conflict due to its distribution further aggravates the crisis: Israel and the US blame Hamas for diverting help; Hamas accuses Israel to use the hunger as a weapon; and the UN says not to have found clear evidence of systematic deviations.
US reinforces diplomatic pressure in the Middle East: Steve Witkoff’s mission in Israel and new sanctions to the Palestinian authority
The special envoy of United States, Steve Witkoff, He met Thursday with Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahuin the midst of growing international pressures to reach a truce in Loop and attend the deep humanitarian crisis that crosses the enclave. The visit occurs in parallel with warnings of international organizations on the imminent risk of famine.
Just hours after the arrival of Witkoff, Donald Trump He expressed himself in his social social network: “The fastest way to put an end to humanitarian crises in Gaza is that Hamas surrenders and releases the hostages.”
Meanwhile, the State Department of USA imposed sanctions against officials of the Palestinian authority (AP) and the Palestine Liberation Organization (OLP), to those who accused of hindering peace efforts. The measure (which prohibits the entrance to USA to the people achieved) marks a new turn in the American position, increasingly distant from their European allies, which in recent weeks have expressed support for the recognition of a Palestinian state.
Source: Ambito
