Press release
Geneva – July 17, 2024
Famine has engulfed the entire Gaza Strip, resulting in the tragic deaths of more Palestinian children from hunger and malnutrition, according to a group of independent UN experts. These fatalities underscore the severity of the humanitarian crisis.
On 30 May 2024, six-month-old Fayez Ataya succumbed to malnutrition, followed by 13-year-old Abdulqader Al-Serhi on 1 June 2024 at Al-Aqsa Hospital in Deir Al-Balah. Nine-year-old Ahmad Abu Reida died on 3 June 2024 in the tent sheltering his displaced family in Al-Mawasi, Khan Younis. Despite receiving medical treatment, these children perished due to inadequate nutrition and healthcare.
“The deaths of these children from starvation despite medical treatment in central Gaza confirm that famine has spread from northern Gaza into central and southern regions,” the experts stated.
They highlighted that the death of a child from malnutrition and dehydration signals a catastrophic collapse of health and social structures. “When the first child dies from malnutrition and dehydration, it becomes irrefutable that famine has taken hold,” they emphasized.
The experts condemned what they described as Israel’s intentional and targeted starvation campaign against Palestinians, labeling it a form of genocidal violence. They urgently called on the international community to prioritize humanitarian aid delivery, lift Israel’s siege, and establish a ceasefire.
“When a 2-month-old baby and 10-year-old Yazan Al Kafarneh died of hunger on 24 February and 4 March respectively, it was clear that famine had struck northern Gaza. The international community should have intervened earlier to halt Israel’s genocidal starvation campaign and prevent these deaths,” the experts lamented.
Since 7 October, 34 Palestinians, primarily children, have died from malnutrition. The experts stressed that continued inaction equates to complicity in this humanitarian disaster. They implore global leaders to act immediately to alleviate the suffering and prevent further loss of life in Gaza.