Euro-Med Monitor: 71 percent of the people in Gaza suffer from severe hunger
Occupied Al-Quds (ST) – The Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor stated that more than 71% of the people in Gaza Strip suffer from sever levels of hunger, due to the Israeli occupation’s use of starvation as a weapon in its ongoing aggression against the Gaza Strip since the 7th of last October. The Monitor called for international action to impose a ceasefire and bring aid into the Strip without restrictions.
The Monitor conducted an analytical study showing that 71% of the people suffer from severe hunger, 98% suffer from insufficient food, while 64% eat immature food, and expired materials to satisfy hunger.
The study monitored that the percentage rate of access to water, including drinking water, bathing and cleaning water, is 1.5 liters for person per day in Gaza, which is 15 liters less than the basic need for survival according to international standards.
66% of the people indicated that they suffer from cases of intestinal diseases, diarrhea, and skin rashes as a result of malnutrition and the lack of safe drinking water.
Doctors reported an increase in the rate of deaths from heart attacks and fainting in the areas of Gaza City and its north, which are witnessing a more severe deterioration in the humanitarian crisis and hunger rates.
The Monitor indicated that the occupation has imposed a comprehensive siege on the Strip since the beginning of its aggression against it, prevented supplies of food, water, fuel and other humanitarian needs for more than 2.4 million Palestinians.
The Israeli occupation cut off all food supplies, destroyed bakeries, factories, food stores, water stations and tanks, and bombed the electrical generators and solar energy units on which commercial establishments, restaurants, and civilian institutions depend, in order to maintain the minimum possible level of their work.
The Monitor stressed that the occupation destroyed agricultural areas, flour stores and the supply centers of relief organizations, especially UNRWA.
The Monitor stated that the occupation restricted the entry of humanitarian supplies through the Rafah crossing and was limited to a rate of 100 trucks per day, and these rates are incomparable to the average load of 500 trucks that entered the Strip to meet humanitarian needs before the 7th of last October.
The Monitor stressed that the international humanitarian law prohibits starvation as a war tool and considers it a war crime. It called for a decisive international action to impose a ceasefire in Gaza, and to prevent the deterioration of the humanitarian situation by allowing essential supplies, such as food, water, fuel, and medical supplies, to reach the entire Strip without restrictions.
Najla Khoury