A massive increase in aid to Gaza is urgent to stop children from starving

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March 15, 2024 – Reading time: 3 minutes

Children are dying of hunger in Gaza. We are calling for an immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire and a significant increase in humanitarian assistance.

As the risk of preventable civilian deaths from starvation rises every day in Gaza, amid reports of many children among the victims, Plan International calls for an immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire and a massive increase in access to humanitarian aid and supplies.

Starvation of civilians is illegal under international humanitarian law

According to the UN, as of March 7, at least 20 children died of hunger in Gaza. In the north of the region, one in six babies under two years of age is severely malnourished. Israel’s restrictions and siege tactics, as well as Israeli military attacks on humanitarian aid, hospitals and medical aid, are preventing the safe and unfettered delivery of aid, and the situation demands immediate and coordinated global action to prevent further deaths. due to lack of food. Starvation of the civilian population is illegal under international humanitarian law.

Children and families depend on aid to survive

Relatives living in Gaza told Plan International that their family members in Gaza depend on humanitarian aid to survive. In the words of a Palestinian resident of the Jerash refugee camp in Jordan: “They are surviving mainly on bread, but most of the time the bread is moldy and they have to eat around it. The food they eat comes from humanitarian aid, but it is never enough.” Others are drinking rainwater and women are giving what little food they have to their sons and daughters.

All children under five are at risk of severe malnutrition

Since the UN issued a stark warning in December 2023 that all 335,000 children under five in Gaza are at risk of severe malnutrition and at high risk of starvation, the situation has worsened dramatically. Restrictions on vital humanitarian aid are directly contributing to this situation, as evidenced by the UN’s recent observation that “malnutrition rates for children under five in northern Gaza, where access to aid was limited, were three times higher than those in the south.”

To address this entirely preventable human-created catastrophe, it is imperative to establish safe and transparent channels for the delivery of life-saving aid to all ground entry points, while exploring all other options to ensure that food, medical assistance and water and sanitation supplies reach those who need them. Blockades and arbitrary denials of aid must cease immediately. Furthermore, there is an urgent need for a comprehensive strategy to recover local agriculture and food production.

Access to humanitarian aid is essential

Airdrops and sea deliveries are useful. However, ground transportation remains the most effective way to get the volume of urgently needed aid to those who need it. We continue to call for a rapid increase in aid delivered via land routes and through all options to ensure safe and unimpeded access for humanitarian aid teams and for civilians to receive aid. Allowing access to humanitarian aid for the civilian population is an obligation under international humanitarian law. We also reiterate our call for other countries to stop sending weapons as long as there is a risk that they will be used to commit or facilitate serious violations of international humanitarian law.

For children in Gaza, time is quickly running out. At least 12,800 Palestinian children have been killed in five months, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health. Urgent action is needed now to prevent further tragedies and prevent further loss of life. We also call for the release of civilian hostages and detained Palestinian children.