United Nations Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process and Humanitarian and Reconstruction Affairs in Gaza, Sigrid Kaag, has warned that more than 60,000 children under the age of five in Gaza are suffering from malnutrition.
Speaking to Anadolu Agency on the sidelines of the 4th Antalya Diplomacy Forum in southern Turkey, Kaag said that humanitarian aid delivered by the UN during the ceasefire period had successfully reached those in need. However, she noted that the flow of aid has stopped since mid-March, as entry has not been permitted since that time.
Kaag stressed that humanitarian workers are facing severe shortages in equipment needed for their operations, and fuel supplies required to run hospitals have been completely depleted. This, she explained, has led to a breakdown in the distribution of humanitarian assistance.
“We know that over 60,000 children under the age of five in Gaza are suffering from malnutrition. Each number in these statistics represents a person, a life, and a struggle to survive,” Kaag emphasized.
She pointed out that under international law, Israel is obligated to allow the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza, underscoring the urgent need for access.
Kaag also condemned the ongoing Israeli attacks on Gaza, stating that they not only affect civilians but also pose a terrifying threat to humanitarian workers, most of whom are Palestinian civilians.
