With 96% of households without clean water, many children suffering from malnutrition do not survive long enough to receive hospital care.
James Elder, spokesperson for the United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef), said in a press briefing in Geneva that it would be a mistake to assume that the situation improves.
“” There is a meaning through the global press that things improve,“He said. »»But unless there is sustained humanitarian aid … there will be horrible results.“”
He highlighted the extent of the needs: “When food arrives in which 30,000 children supports, there are still 970,000 children who do not get enough. It is a drop in the ocean. “
Always help a net
The coordination office of the UN, Ochhasaid that although unilateral breaks have enabled Gaza a certain aid, the current net is largely insufficient.
“There should be hundreds and hundreds of trucks entering Gaza every day, for the months or years to come,” said Jens Laerke, spokesperson for the OCHA. “” People die every day. This is a crisis, on the verge of famine.“”
Thousands of tonnes of pre-funded help remain stuck just outside the enclave, he added, because bureaucratic delays and lack of safe access continue to block the distribution.
Necessary urgent scale
In New York, the United Nations deputy spokesperson Farhan Haq, also noted the obstacles to bring it and distribute sufficient aid.
“Massive food shortages continue to have an impact on the chances of survival of people,” he said. “As the levels of malnutrition are increasing, children’s immune systems are weakened, which hinders their development and their growth far in the future.”
Last Thursday, 71 kitchens delivered more than 270,000 hot meals in Gaza, including 10,000 in health establishments. But this figure is far from what is necessary to feed more than two million people.
“” We need an urgent scaling up of supplies, as well as an environment that allows humanitarian workers to reach people in need safely, quickly and efficiently,»M. Haq added.
Health challenges continue
Some drugs have entered Gaza in recent days, but supplies have been limited. Health workers continue to operate under extreme pressure and shortages.
The World Health Organization (WHO) reported 46 cases of Guillain-Barré syndrome In July, including two deaths. The condition, which affects the nervous system, has been linked to compromised immunity, poor nutrition and infections related to hygiene.
The situation of pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers is just as alarming. The United Nations Reproductive Health Agency, Unfpasaid that 40% of pregnant or breastfeeding women suffer from severe malnutrition, death and death-naked, with an increase.
Meanwhile, three UN oil tankers reached Gaza City on Monday. The fuel will feed critical health, water and sanitation services, but OCHA stressed that this only allows operations to operate at a “minimum” capacity.
Publicado anteriormente en Almouwatin.
