Number of Gaza victims increases to 1.7 million, starvation crisis increases to 570,000
UN: “Humanitarian access and ceasefire needed”
Israel: Humanitarian disaster is exaggerated
As Israel blocks the Gaza Strip in Palestine, limiting water and food supplies, there are concerns about the enormous sacrifice of local residents.
According to the New York Times (NYT) on the 23rd (local time), more than 1.7 million people are currently displaced in the Gaza Strip, and more than 570,000 people are experiencing severe hunger.
On this day, the United Nations (UN) posted on appealed strongly.
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) also said, “Hospitals and other health facilities in the Gaza Strip are damaged,” and added, “There must be a humanitarian ceasefire to deliver relief supplies.”
According to a video released by UN spokeswoman Juliet Touma, who visited the Gaza Strip, Gaza residents are lying on the floor of a crowded hospital, receiving basic or temporary medical care. There are also images of families living in temporary housing waiting in line to get food.
Spokesperson Tuma said, “These are not conditions for humans to live in,” adding, “It is an extremely dangerous and serious situation.”
Due to the war between Israel and Israel that began after the Hamas invasion on October 7 last year, Israel restricted the supply of food, water, and fuel to the Gaza Strip.
The UN said, “There are great difficulties in procuring relief supplies to the Gaza Strip due to the combat situation and communication disruption,” and added, “It is not easy to move or even go to the hospital within the Gaza Strip.”
Palestinian health officials said, “Since Israel began its military operation against Hamas, the number of people killed in the Gaza Strip has exceeded 25,000.” According to the UN, approximately 17,500 people, or 70% of the dead, are women and children.
In response, the Israeli government said, “We are doing our best to minimize civilian casualties,” and criticized Hamas, which invaded Israel on October 7 last year and killed about 1,200 people.
At the same time, the Israeli government claimed that “reports that a humanitarian disaster has occurred in the Gaza Strip are exaggerated.”
On the 22nd, Colonel Elad Goren, Israel’s administrator for Palestine, said, “Hamas is abusing local medical facilities to make it look like there is a humanitarian crisis in Gaza.”
He added, “Israel has set up six field hospitals in the Gaza Strip and shipped in more than 13,000 tons of medical supplies in more than 1,100 trucks.”
Humanitarians are appealing for more aid from around the world to help the 2.2 million people living in Gaza amid a serious shortage of food, water and other supplies.
Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.