'We have nothing to give them,' says aid worker in Gaza
No food or medical supplies have entered Gaza since 2 March, and both international and local aid groups are running out of the few remaining resources, Amjad Rawwa, Executive Director of a Gaza-based Palestinian NGO network partnered with ActionAid Ireland, told RTÉ News.
"Only one-tenth of community kitchens offering free food are still running.
"They can provide people with just one dish of rice. There's no fresh food, no eggs, no milk - and no meat, for sure," he said.
Without a resumption of humanitarian deliveries, those kitchens are expected to run out of food within days.
Amid relentless bombardment, the daily search for water and food has become a desperate routine.
"Each morning, one part of the family queues for water trucks, while others head to the community kitchens - waiting hours for a small portion of rice," Mr Rawwa said.
Local markets offer little. Prices have soared, putting basic goods far beyond the reach of most families. A 25kg bag of flour now costs up to $350, while a kilo of tomatoes can fetch $15.
"People have lost their income. They simply can't afford to buy anything.
"I sometimes have to go to a community kitchen myself."
The social and economic fabric of Gaza has been torn apart, Mr Rawwa added. Farms and food production facilities have been destroyed, leaving the enclave completely dependent on outside aid.
"It's an engineered catastrophe," he added.
Water access is also critically limited. Wells repaired during the ceasefire are now in evacuated areas, unreachable for many.
No medical supplies have reached Gaza in the weeks of total blockade, with the lack of polio vaccines among the biggest fears for the aid groups. The few hospitals still functioning are overwhelmed, treating mostly those injured in airstrikes.
The NGO network receives daily calls from residents pleading for insulin, heart medication and other life-saving treatments.
"We have nothing to give them," Mr Rawwa said.
Gaza also faces a mounting waste crisis threatening public health and hygiene. Waste collection systems have collapsed, and tonnes of rubbish now line the streets. Displaced families, forced to move repeatedly, are pitching tents amid the pollution.
Mr Rawwa is calling for urgent international intervention to protect civilians - especially children.
"They have big dreams. But if crossings aren't opened soon, I'm scared of what we'll see in the coming days."
According to media reports, the United States, Israel and a new international foundation are close to agreeing a plan to resume humanitarian deliveries to Gaza, without them being controlled by Hamas.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Extra.ie
17 minutes ago
- Extra.ie
Health Insurance That Won't Ghost You! Enter Level Health
Let's be honest: traditional health insurance can feel a bit like that one person who's charming over text but vanishes the second you actually need them. You try to reach out, you wait, you wonder if you've done something wrong… but really, it's just not you – it's them! That's where Level Health comes in. Ireland's newest health insurer has officially entered the chat and it's here to change the game. Think real support, simplified plans, and round-the-clock access to actual medical professionals. No ghosts. No hold music. No unnecessary stress. One of the standout features of Level Health is their QuickClinic, which basically gives you 24/7 access to Irish-based doctors, midwives, mental health professionals, physiotherapists and more anytime, anywhere… No appointment needed! Whether it's 3am, 11am or just one of those weird in-between times where you're not sure if it's too late or too early, QuickClinic is open. You can WhatsApp or jump on a video call with a doctor, or message a midwife or mental health professional while you're still in your pjs. You don't have to rearrange your entire life to get medical help – and honestly, that alone is a total game changer! Level Health was created with a pretty simple idea: make health insurance make sense. That's why they've stripped things back to just four straightforward plans. You won't need to wade through dozens of policy options or decode industry jargon. It's designed for real people who just want cover that actually works, without the admin headache. And when it comes to customer support? You can get help via WhatsApp. Like, from a real person. Even better, claims can be paid directly into your Revolut, in hours, not days! It's health insurance that's actually fast and user-friendly. But Level Health hasn't stopped at the basics. You've got access to the most comprehensive network of hospitals, and cover for more urgent care clinics, private emergency departments and scan centres than with any other Irish health insurer. Pic: Getty Images There are also exclusive perks through Aviva, like big discounts on home (50% off!), motor, and mortgage protection insurance – plus free family protection cover with every plan. Oh, and if you're watching your wallet (who isn't?), their most affordable plan gives you both health and travel insurance for less than €1.50 a day. That's genuinely less than your morning oat flat white. More and more people are switching to Level Health because it just makes sense. It's a modern, customer-first approach that puts you in control of your healthcare without making you jump through hoops. Supplied You shouldn't have to wait until Monday to speak to a doctor when your brain is spiralling at 2:47am. With QuickClinic, you don't have to. So, if you've ever thought health insurance was overly complicated, outdated or just not designed for the way we live today, you're not wrong. And now, there's finally a smarter, more human way to do it. Curious? Head over to and get a quote. You might just find yourself saying: Why didn't I switch sooner?! Level Health Limited trading as Level Health is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland. Health insurance products provided by Level Health Limited are underwritten by Aviva Insurance Ireland DAC. Home and car insurance is underwritten by Aviva Insurance Ireland DAC. Aviva Insurance Ireland DAC, trading as Aviva, is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland. Mortgage Protection policy is arranged by Aviva Direct Ireland Limited and underwritten by Aviva Life & Pensions Ireland. Aviva Direct Ireland Limited is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland. Terms, conditions and exclusions apply. Travel insurance is provided by Allianz Partners on behalf of Level Health. AWP P&C S.A. – Dutch Branch, trading as Allianz Partners, registered at the Dutch Authority for the Financial Markets and authorised by L'Autorité de Contrôle Prudentiel et de Résolution (ACPR) in France and regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland for conduct of business rules.
RTÉ News
an hour ago
- RTÉ News
Children 'starving before our eyes' in Gaza, says Taoiseach
Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said that "children are starving before our eyes" in Gaza as more than 100 aid organisations warned that "mass starvation" was spreading in the Palestinian territory. In a statement, he said: "The suffering of civilians in Gaza has reached new depths of despair and misery." "People are dying every day from lack of food and medicine," said Mr Martin, adding that hundreds "have been killed while trying to collect what little food is available". "This is an affront to our collective humanity," he said. Mr Martin called for an "immediate and permanent ceasefire". He added: "Israel must lift its blockade and allow the full resumption of humanitarian aid into and throughout Gaza. "All hostages must be released by Hamas and returned to their families." Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, Mr Martin said that what is happening in Gaza is "beyond any comprehension" adding that the images are "horrific". "It's a stain on Israel at this stage. It's a shame that any government would continue a war that is wreaking such devastation on poor children and innocent children at the scale and level that is happening," he said. The Taoiseach called for a "massive surge" in humanitarian aid into Gaza, adding that he is "very disturbed by the undermining of the UN and the relief organisations". Israel is facing mounting international pressure over the catastrophic humanitarian situation in the Palestinian territory, where more than two million people face severe shortages of food and other essentials after 21 months of conflict. Watch: Taoiseach says a shame Israel continues to wreak war on innocent children The UN said that Israeli forces had killed more than 1,000 Palestinians trying to get food aid since the US- and Israel-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation started operations in late May effectively sidelining the existing UN-led system. Canadian surgeon says last lifelines in Gaza 'collapsing' Meanwhile, a surgeon based in Gaza said major shortages and crumbling facilities are forcing healthcare workers to provide sub-optimal care for people that have "some of the worst injuries" she has tried to treat. Canadian doctor Deirdre Nunan works at the Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis. Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, Dr Nunan said she did not have the relevant tools to carry out the necessary surgeries as an orthopaedic surgeon. She said the Nasser Hospital is crumbling because of numerous Israeli attacks on the facility. In the big operating theatres, she said less than half of the taps work, and in the satellite operating theatres, she said there are days when they have no water or not enough power to run the air-conditioning. "We are cobbling together what is left from the storage rooms to try to piece together something that looks like orthopedic fixation using things that are the wrong size, the wrong length, really providing what is unfortunately sub-optimal care in a totally unfit environment for people that have some of the worse injuries I've ever tried to treat in my life," she said. Dr Nunan said healthcare workers are working in sweltering conditions that are dangerous for patients. "I have to decide between the limited amount of time that we have in the operating room for which patient gets to go into which surgery on which day," she added. Health officials say hospitals have been running out of fuel, food aid and medicine, risking a halt to vital operations. Dr Nunan has been coming to Gaza since 2019 and is currently on her sixth tour of duty. She has been in Gaza for the past three weeks. "It's just one scene of desperation after another through the three weeks that I've been here. "There are more and more people that are living on the hospital grounds and in the hospital corridors themselves." She said the people of Gaza have almost no material possessions left, adding that children are begging for food and fresh water. "I see it worsening before my eyes" Yesterday, the head of Gaza's largest hospital has said 21 children have died due to malnutrition and starvation in the Palestinian territory in the past three days. Dr Nunan described the lives of colleagues living in tents and the ruins of their homes as lives of "bare survival". She agreed with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres that the last lifelines keeping people alive in Gaza were collapsing. "I see it worsening before my eyes," she said. More than 100 aid organisations have warned that "mass starvation" is spreading in the Palestinian territory as Israel is facing mounting international pressure over the catastrophic humanitarian situation in the territory. Dr Nunan said the people are what bring her back to Gaza. "These are some of the most wonderful people I've ever met in the world. "I've had multi-year friendships with a lot of my colleagues that we keep in touch even when I'm not here." Despite the desperation, she said people in Gaza continue to be "so warm, so welcoming, so generous despite having nothing". She said the healthcare workers are the most dedicated and professional she has ever worked with. "For me it continues to be a privilege to come to Gaza even though I am absolutely heartbroken and extremely, extremely angry with the world for allowing this desecration to take place and for doing so little to stop it."
Irish Examiner
an hour ago
- Irish Examiner
Heart device sales help Boston Scientific beat profit estimates
Biomedical firm Boston Scientific has raised its annual profit forecast after strong demand for its heart devices helped the US medical device maker beat second-quarter profit estimates. Shares of the Massachusetts-based company rose by over 3% in pre-market trading following the results. A rise in surgical procedures has benefited medical device manufacturers such as Boston Scientific, as it boosted sales and helped offset broader concerns about healthcare spending pressures. Analysts said hospital utilization trends were robust during the second quarter, with hospital checks pointing to high single-digit volume growth - well above the historical average. Boston Scientific's main growth drivers, Farapulse and Watchman, which use short high-voltage pulses to treat certain abnormal heart rhythm conditions, saw strong demand during the quarter. Farapulse, approved in the US to treat certain patients with intermittent atrial fibrillation, competes with Johnson & Johnson's Varipulse and Medtronic's PulseSelect in the market for pulsed field ablation systems. Rival Johnson & Johnson last week posted strong medtech sales, aided by its heart devices, Varipulse and Trupulse. The company reported net sales of $5.06bn (€4.33bn) during the second quarter beating estimates of $4.9bn. The majority of these sales, $3.2bn, were in the US with Europe, the Middle East, and Africa accounting for just $878m. The company's cardiovascular unit reported quarterly sales of $3.34bn, surpassing estimates of $3.20bn. 'Excellent quarter' Chairman and chief executive of Boston Scientific, Mike Mahoney, said it was another 'excellent quarter' for the company 'marked by exceptional top-line performance' which delivered 'margin expansion and prioritized investment for future growth'. Boston Scientific expects 2025 adjusted profit of $2.95 to $2.99 per share, up from the prior view of $2.87 to $2.94 earlier. It posted an adjusted profit of 75c per share for the second quarter, topping analysts' average estimate of 72 cents, according to data compiled by LSEG. Boston Scientific began operating in Ireland in 1994. It has a large campus in Cork as well as several other locations across the island. According to its company's Irish operations' most recent financial documents, it employed 6,405 during 2023. Reuters
