More than a dozen humanitarian organizations have called Wednesday for an immediate and permanent ceasefire and a massive increase in humanitarian assistance to avoid famine in the war-torn Gaza Strip. The United Nations, independent rights experts, human rights groups and humanitarian organizations have repeatedly warned that Israel is using starvation of civilians as a method of warfare in Gaza.
âAllowing access for humanitarian aid to reach the civilian population is an obligation under International Humanitarian Law and immediate measures need to be taken to effectively address and comply with the demands of the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2417 which condemns the use of starvation of civilians as a method of warfareâ, the non-governmental organizations (NGOs) said in a joined statement.
Among the signatories are Action Against Hunger, ActionAid, Danish Refugee Council, Humanity and Inclusion / Handicap International (HI), Islamic Relief USA, Mercy Corps, Norwegian Refugee Council, Plan International, Save the Children, and Solidarités International.
The NGOs warn that the risk of famine is increasing each day in Gaza due to the continuation of hostilities, and the continued blockade of the Gaza Strip by Israeli Defense Forces (IDF).
According to the latest IPC analysis, the entire population is living with crisis-level hunger, and one in four households - more than half a million people â faces catastrophic conditions. This is the highest proportion of any population in food security crisis and above on the IPC's global records.
âVirtually all households are skipping meals each day. Some families go days and nights without eating. Before October 7th, acute malnutrition in Gaza was almost non-existent. However, the UN predicts that child wasting is likely to increase by 27 percent in Gaza in the coming months,â the humanitarian organizations said.
Starvation of the civilian population is illegal under International Humanitarian Law (IHL), and in direct breach of a key Security Council Resolution. Resolution 2417 was unanimously approved in 2018 to condemn the use of hunger and starvation as a weapon of war.
Before the current conflict, humanitarian food assistance was supporting over two-thirds of the population in Gaza. Now, needs have largely increased and deteriorated, and humanitarian assistance has reduced due to violence, insecurity and access barriers.
âThe siege tactics imposed by Israel on Gaza are one of the key factors impeding the delivery of aid. Under International Humanitarian Law, parties to the conflict are obliged to facilitate rapid unfettered access to aid. Additional factors include the ongoing bombardments of densely populated areas, including distribution sites, and Israel's denial of humanitarian aid missions to the North and other areas of Gaza,â the statement said.
The humanitarian organizations warn that infants, young children, and pregnant and lactating women are currently more vulnerable than before the conflict escalation as the insufficient access to food, water and basic services exposes these groups to greater chances of suffering from malnutrition and disease, heightening the risk of mortality and morbidity.
According to the United Nations, lack of adequate water and sanitation is causing widespread diarrhea and disease. Only one out of the three water pipelines coming from Israel is operational, and there is no access to clean water in the northern governorates.
âThe prevention of sufficient food aid from reaching the population and targeting food production and distribution infrastructure, including farms, water systems, mills, food processing and storing sites, hubs, and means for food transportation are a direct violation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 2417,â the NGOs stressed.
In addition, actions preventing humanitarian aid from reaching those in urgent need are also in violation of a recent court order by the worldâs highest court. In a landmark ruling, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on January 26 ordered Israel to allow the entry of desperately needed humanitarian aid into the war-shattered enclave and to enable the provision of urgently needed basic services to Palestinians there.
âThe only way to avoid the risk of famine is to immediately stop the deterioration of health, nutrition and food security, and increasing morbidity, through the restoration of health services, water and sanitation services, fisheries and agricultural lands, and marketsâ, the statement said.
âAvoiding famine cannot be done with ongoing hostilities. An immediate and permanent ceasefire and the scale-up of access to aid across the Gaza Strip are essential.â
Meanwhile, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), reported today that intense Israeli bombardment from air, land and sea continues across much of the Gaza Strip. Intensified airstrikes on Rafah, and statements by Israeli officials have reportedly led to the movement of people out of Gazaâs southernmost governorate toward the town of Deir al Balah, OCHA said.
Military strikes in Rafah have heightened concerns of an escalation in Gazaâs southernmost city. Of the 1.7 million people displaced in Gaza, more than 1.1 million Palestinians have sought refuge in Rafah governorate.
OCHA has warned before that growing insecurity in Rafah is greatly impacting humanitarian response activities. Before the start of the war, Rafah had a population of 200,000 people. Israelâs relentless attacks has increased the number of people in the city now to some 1.3 million.
On Monday, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker TuÌrk warned that a potential full-fledged military incursion in Rafah would likely kill and injure an extremely high number of civilians, mostly children and women, and end the meager humanitarian aid that has been entering Gaza.
Since October 7 last year, more than 28,500 Palestinians have been killed and more than 68,000 wounded in Israelâs war against the tiny territory and its inhabitants. Across Gaza, people displaced by the ongoing Israeli attacks are facing acute shortages of shelter, clean water, food and medicine.
On Tuesday, Martin Griffiths, the UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, warned that military operations in Rafah could lead to âa slaughter in Gazaâ.
âMore than half of Gazaâs population â well over 1 million people â are crammed in Rafah, staring death in the face: They have little to eat, hardly any access to medical care, nowhere to sleep, nowhere safe to go,â Griffiths said.
âThey, like the entire population of Gaza, are the victims of an assault that is unparalleled in its intensity, brutality and scope,â he added.
The Emergency Relief Coordinator has been warning for weeks that the humanitarian response is collapsing.
âToday, Iâm sounding the alarm once again: Military operations in Rafah could lead to a slaughter in Gaza. They could also leave an already fragile humanitarian operation at deathâs door,â Griffiths said.
"The international community has been warning against the dangerous consequences of any ground invasion in Rafah. The Government of Israel cannot continue to ignore these calls. History will not be kind. This war must end."
Further information
Full text: Joint Statement on Conflict-Induced Hunger in Gaza, Statement by 15 NGOs, released February 14, 2024
https://www.savethechildren.net/news/joint-statement-conflict-induced-hunger-gaza
Full text: Military operations in Rafah could lead to a slaughter in Gaza and put a fragile humanitarian operation at deathâs door - Statement by Martin Griffiths, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, released February 13, 2024
https://www.ochaopt.org/content/military-operations-rafah-could-lead-slaughter-gaza-and-put-fragile-humanitarian-operation-death-s-door