GAZA CITY: Amidst the intensifying Israeli brutalities in Gaza against innocent Palestinians, Oxfam on Wednesday warned that starvation is being used as a weapon of war against the Palestinian civilian population. The humanitarian organization called for urgent international intervention, emphasizing the critical need for food, water, fuel, and other essentials to be allowed into the besieged region.
Oxfam’s analysis of UN data revealed a stark reality: since the total siege by Israel, which tightened the existing blockade and was imposed on October 9, just two percent of the expected food deliveries have entered Gaza. The agency highlighted that despite 62 trucks of aid being allowed to enter southern Gaza via the Rafah crossing since the weekend, only a fraction contained food, indicating a severe shortage. Before the conflict, 104 trucks a day would deliver food to Gaza, one truck arriving every 14 minutes. The situation has now deteriorated drastically, with only sporadic aid deliveries reaching the distressed population.
Sally Abi Khalil, Oxfam’s Regional Middle East Director, expressed deep concern over Israeli brutalities, stating, “The situation is nothing short of horrific – where is humanity? Millions of Palestinian civilians are being collectively punished in front of the world; there can be no justification for using starvation as a weapon of war. World leaders cannot continue to sit back and watch; they have an obligation to act and to act now.”
Dire Humanitarian Situation in Gaza Amid Israeli Violence
The humanitarian situation in Gaza is dire as clean water is almost nonexistent, with only three liters available per person, far below the minimum requirement of 15 liters in acute humanitarian emergencies. Additionally, the scarcity of fuel has disrupted food supplies, affecting refrigeration, crop irrigation, and incubation devices. Over 15,000 farmers have lost their crops, and 10,000 livestock breeders face severe challenges.
The lack of fuel, damaged roads, and risks from Israeli airstrikes have made the delivery of essential food items, like flour, oil, and sugar, physically impossible. Furthermore, the ongoing Israeli airstrikes have devastated bakeries and supermarkets, leaving those still operational struggling to meet local demands and at risk of shutting down due to shortages of essentials like flour and fuel.
Oxfam called on the UN Security Council and UN Member States to take immediate action to prevent the situation from worsening further. The organization demanded an immediate ceasefire, unrestricted access to the entire Gaza Strip for humanitarian aid, and the provision of all necessary food, water, medical, and fuel supplies to meet the population’s urgent needs.
