Aid Groups Warn of Severe Hunger Crisis in Gaza Amid Blockade

International aid organizations issued a joint statement on Wednesday warning of a worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where food shortages, unsanitary conditions, and disease are spreading. The statement, signed by more than 100 groups including Doctors Without Borders, Save the Children, and the Norwegian Refugee Council, urged Israel to lift its blockade, restore the flow of essential supplies, and agree to a ceasefire.

The organizations said that each day without sustained aid increases the risk of preventable deaths, particularly among children. According to the Palestinian health ministry, dozens of people, mostly children, have died from malnutrition since the conflict began in October 2023.

Israel has attributed the disruption of aid deliveries to actions by Hamas, alleging that the group has diverted supplies for its own use, a claim Hamas denies. While Israeli officials state that sufficient aid is being allowed into Gaza, aid agencies and several Western governments report that the amount reaching the population is far below what is needed.

The United Nations World Food Program has warned that famine is imminent, with approximately 70,000 children in Gaza requiring urgent treatment for acute malnutrition.