Gaza, 21 February 2024 (TDI): Israel‘s assault in Gaza has lasted for the 20th week. It is the most fatal attack on Gaza after Israel’s withdrawal in 2005. According to the Palestinian Health Ministry, more than 29000 Palestinians have been killed so far, worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Besides killing people, living conditions in Gaza look grim. Humanitarian aid has been delivered but it is not enough for such a populated area. Humanitarian aid includes food supplies, staple hygienic stuff, and other things needed for a normal life.
According to World Food Program (WFP) reports, food and safe water have been scarce and prompt malnutrition. Reports showed that situation in the North Gaza is particularly grim.
One in six children under two years of age are acutely malnourished. Similar screenings found in South Gaza, Rafah, showed that five percent of children under two years of age are acutely malnourished. Other findings are also horrible.
Ninety-five percent of households limit their meals and portion size while sixty-four percent eat only once a day. Further, adults received restricted amounts of food to ensure children had food to eat.
Also Read: UNSC to vote on Algeria’s ceasefire proposal for Gaza
Regarding safe water, households had access to less than one liter per person per day while humanitarian standards set the minimum amount of safe water in emergency to three liter per person per day.
Lack of safe water caused more infectious disease and diarrhea in the past two weeks. At least ninety percent of children under five are affected by disease and seventy percent have diarrhea. It was a 23-fold increase compared with the 2022 baseline.
US Veto in UNSC
On February 20, Arab nations, led by Algeria put the draft resolution before the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to halt the assault in Gaza. Draft resolution called upon immediate ceasefire based on the International Court of Justice (ICJ) interim order.
Further, the draft resolution demanded the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages. The US ambassador to the UN, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, justified the veto saying it would jeopardize current talks between the US, Egypt, Israel, and Qatar on immediate ceasefire and the release of hostages held by Hamas.
She rejected claims that the veto covers Israel’s ground invasion into the city of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip.
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