Since October 7, when a Hamas-led attack initiated conflict, access to Gaza had been tightly controlled by Israel. However, in response to mounting concerns over a looming famine in the region, Israel has announced the opening of a new entry point for aid into Gaza, Reuters reported. The move comes after a U.N.-backed report highlighted the imminent risk of famine, particularly in the northern areas, with fears that it could extend further.
Israel's military declared that it would permit unlimited supplies into Gaza through the newly established entry point. Colonel Moshe Tetro, head of Israel's Coordination and Liaison Administration for Gaza, assured reporters that there was an adequate flow of food into Gaza, denying claims of starvation.
“As much as we know, by our analysis, there is no starvation in Gaza. There is a sufficient amount of food entering Gaza every day," Colonel Moshe Tetro voiced.
He emphasized that Israel was committed to facilitating humanitarian aid, attributing delays to logistical challenges faced by international aid groups.
“We are doing everything that we can to enlarge the capacity of humanitarian aid going into Gaza," Tetro added.
The latest convoy, consisting of seven trucks, entered Gaza through Gate 96, marking the third utilization of this route. Despite these efforts, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza persists, exacerbated by the devastation caused by months of conflict.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, currently in Israel for discussions, has pledged to urge Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to accelerate aid delivery to Gaza. The U.S. has also resorted to airdrops and plans to construct a pier for sea deliveries. However, aid agencies stress the importance of land routes for efficient distribution, despite appreciating alternative methods.
Aid convoys, managed by Palestinian drivers, undergo military clearance at the southern cross point of Kerem Shalom before proceeding to Gate 96 for entry into Gaza and distribution to affected areas. The international community continues to pressure for swift action to alleviate the suffering of Gaza's population amid the ongoing crisis.
Sections of the Gaza Strip are facing severe food scarcities, reaching levels akin to famine. As per the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), an international hunger monitoring organization trusted by U.N. agencies, its March 18 report warned of an impending humanitarian catastrophe unless there is an immediate ceasefire and a substantial increase in food delivery to regions isolated by conflict, predicting widespread fatalities.
In certain regions of northern Gaza, as indicated by the IPC, approximately 70% of the population is grappling with the most critical stage of food scarcity, surpassing the famine threshold set at 20%. The IPC expresses concerns that residents are facing perilous conditions akin to famine, defined as a situation where two out of every 10,000 individuals perish daily due to starvation, malnutrition, and diseases, although there is insufficient data available on mortality rates.
The health ministry in Gaza has reported the deaths of three adults and 27 children due to starvation.
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