Palestinian families in northern Gaza are forced into “dire choices for survival” as Israel has halted vital food convoys for the region, where the threat of famine is highest, according to the UN humanitarian office for Palestinian territories.
“As famine edges closer, families are forced into dire choices for survival,” the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said in a post on X
“The need for safe, unhindered humanitarian support has never been more urgent,” it added.
In the past 48 hours, vital food aid for thousands in northern #Gaza has been halted since safe access was not facilitated. As famine edges closer, families are forced into dire choices for survival. The need for safe, unhindered humanitarian support has never been more urgent. pic.twitter.com/JcijchH18r
— OCHA oPt (Palestine) (@ochaopt) March 25, 2024
The warning came a day after the Israeli regime notified the UN that it would no longer approve food convoys for northern Gaza.
The UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, said on Sunday that Israel had definitively barred it from delivering lifesaving aid to the region amid a man-made famine.
“Despite the tragedy unfolding under our watch, the Israeli Authorities informed the UN that they will no longer approve any @UNRWA food convoys to the north,” Philippe Lazzarini, the head of the agency, said on X.
“This is outrageous & makes it intentional to obstruct lifesaving assistance during a man made famine.”
‘Many children already dying of hunger’
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Monday “it is absolutely essential” to have a “massive supply” of humanitarian aid in northern Gaza, where starvation is “bearing down on Palestinians.”
Speaking during a visit to Jordan, Guterres said Israel must remove “obstacles” and allow more entry points so that the UN and other international organizations can deliver humanitarian aid.
“This means opening more entry points, this means a concentration of effort of all entities without obstacles without limitations from the Israeli side in order to be able to rescue the people of northern Gaza at imminent risk of famine,” he said during a news conference with Jordan’s foreign minister.
“Many children today are already dying of hunger,” he warned.
Guterres also warned that a planned ground invasion of Rafah could create a “catastrophic humanitarian situation.”
