Hunger claims more lives in Gaza and overwhelms exhausted medics
Gaza's health authorities said 180 people have now died of starvation – 93 of them children – under Israel 's blockade of the coastal territory. It added that the total death toll of Israel's war now stands at 60,199.
Gaza's medical and humanitarian situation has deteriorated drastically, with severe food shortages, soaring child malnutrition, and collapsing healthcare infrastructure.
Mohammed Abu Salmiya, the director of Al Shifa medical complex in Gaza city, said the situation has reached a breaking point.
'Every day, deaths due to malnutrition are being recorded in the Gaza Strip as a result of the deliberate starvation policy practised by the occupation,' Dr Abu Salmiya said.
He warned that Gaza's health system can no longer carry the burden. 'We are overwhelmed,' he said. 'We cannot keep up with the number of patients suffering from hunger-related complications.'
One starving Gazan, 75-year-old Salim Asfour, has lost more than half his body weight during months of food shortages. 'I can't go to collect aid. I can't even walk 10 metres,' he told The National.
'I have to lean on my son just to go to the bathroom. Even if I do manage to get there, how can I, a 75-year-old man, carry a bag of flour?"
As the humanitarian situation worsens, international efforts have included air drops of food and aid supplies. The UAE carried out its 61st aid flight on Sunday, with the help of Jordan, France, Germany, Belgium and Italy.
The UAE air drops 'aim to deliver essential humanitarian aid to areas that are difficult to access by land due to the ongoing field conditions', the state news agency Wam reported.
The UAE has called for humanitarian assistance to reach those in need in Gaza 'through all available means'. Jordan's King Abdullah II last week described land crossings as 'the main and most effective means to provide sufficient aid, in addition to air drops'.
On the ground, displaced families express growing despair at the humanitarian situation. Mohammed Abu Adghaem, a father of five currently in Al Naser, said the physically strong, or those with cars, are best-placed to get the food from air drops.
The message from Gaza is unified and urgent: open the land crossings.
'The only real solution is opening the crossings and flooding the market with aid,' said Ismail Al Thawabta, director of the Government Media Office in Gaza. 'That aid must be distributed by organisations like UNRWA that know how to do it fairly, safely and with dignity.'
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UK taskforce set up to bring injured children from Gaza
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Doctors and hospitals across the UK have long called for children from Gaza to come for treatment, and many UK-based medical professionals are travelling to the strip to support the work of hospitals there. 'We get several people contacting us every day, across communities in the UK, saying they want to help,' Mr Din said. The full details of the plan will be announced in the coming weeks, but it has been suggested that the children would be treated on the NHS, with one parent or guardian accompanying them, and with security checks made by the Foreign Office. Treatment on the NHS would also allow the patients to access treatment across the health system. 'When it's the NHS you've got the entire force available to you,' Mr Din said. Project Pure Hope's privately-funded evacuations will continue in parallel with the government scheme. Fast-tracking required It comes amid overwhelming public pressure for the government to take strong measures to end the war in Gaza, and address the famine. Prime Minister Keir Starmer said last week that the UK was 'urgently accelerating' efforts to bring injured children to the UK, days after he announced terms for the conditional recognition of a Palestinian state sometime in September. More than 50,000 children are estimated to have been killed or injured in Gaza since October 2023, according to Unicef. There are concerns as to whether the UK can ask quickly enough to take evacuate children from Gaza who have urgent needs. Majd spent a year in Gaza with his injuries before he could be moved to Egypt in February of this year. The Israeli tank shell that shattered his jaw has left him unable to smile, talk or eat properly in that time. 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The National
3 hours ago
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Five more people have died from hunger in Gaza, health authorities said on Monday, amid warnings that what's left of the medical sector can no longer carry the burden. Gaza's health authorities said 180 people have now died of starvation – 93 of them children – under Israel 's blockade of the coastal territory. It added that the total death toll of Israel's war now stands at 60,199. Gaza's medical and humanitarian situation has deteriorated drastically, with severe food shortages, soaring child malnutrition, and collapsing healthcare infrastructure. Mohammed Abu Salmiya, the director of Al Shifa medical complex in Gaza city, said the situation has reached a breaking point. 'Every day, deaths due to malnutrition are being recorded in the Gaza Strip as a result of the deliberate starvation policy practised by the occupation,' Dr Abu Salmiya said. He warned that Gaza's health system can no longer carry the burden. 'We are overwhelmed,' he said. 'We cannot keep up with the number of patients suffering from hunger-related complications.' One starving Gazan, 75-year-old Salim Asfour, has lost more than half his body weight during months of food shortages. 'I can't go to collect aid. I can't even walk 10 metres,' he told The National. 'I have to lean on my son just to go to the bathroom. Even if I do manage to get there, how can I, a 75-year-old man, carry a bag of flour?" As the humanitarian situation worsens, international efforts have included air drops of food and aid supplies. The UAE carried out its 61st aid flight on Sunday, with the help of Jordan, France, Germany, Belgium and Italy. The UAE air drops 'aim to deliver essential humanitarian aid to areas that are difficult to access by land due to the ongoing field conditions', the state news agency Wam reported. The UAE has called for humanitarian assistance to reach those in need in Gaza 'through all available means'. Jordan's King Abdullah II last week described land crossings as 'the main and most effective means to provide sufficient aid, in addition to air drops'. On the ground, displaced families express growing despair at the humanitarian situation. Mohammed Abu Adghaem, a father of five currently in Al Naser, said the physically strong, or those with cars, are best-placed to get the food from air drops. The message from Gaza is unified and urgent: open the land crossings. 'The only real solution is opening the crossings and flooding the market with aid,' said Ismail Al Thawabta, director of the Government Media Office in Gaza. 'That aid must be distributed by organisations like UNRWA that know how to do it fairly, safely and with dignity.'
Khaleej Times
3 hours ago
- Khaleej Times
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