Cindy McCain, Executive Director of the UN’s World Food Program, has sounded the alarm on the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, declaring that the ongoing blockade has brought the enclave’s 2.3 million residents to the brink of starvation.
The densely populated coastal region has been under siege by Israel for almost two weeks, with restrictions on the entry of food and medical aid due to concerns that it could fall into the hands of the militant group Hamas.
As Israel escalates airstrikes in preparation for a potential ground invasion, the first 20 aid trucks managed to enter Gaza on Saturday after being initially blocked near the Egyptian-controlled Rafah border crossing. However, McCain emphasizes that a much larger quantity of aid is urgently required to address the growing crisis.
McCain, in an interview with POLITICO, stated, “Right now we’re facing a catastrophe in the area with the inability to feed people and the inability for the people to find anything to eat at all. These people are going to starve to death unless we can get in.”
Arnaud Quemin, the regional director of the relief organization Mercy Corps, echoed McCain’s concerns, emphasizing the necessity of a ceasefire for a sustained flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza. He warned of the potential spillover of the conflict into neighboring countries like Lebanon, already grappling with recent wars and a severe economic crisis, posing a daunting challenge to the international community.
On Sunday, a second convoy of aid trucks entered the Egyptian side of the Rafah border crossing, heading towards Gaza. The trucks carried crucial medical and food supplies, according to Egyptian security and humanitarian sources.
The Gaza Strip has been under siege by Israeli forces since October 9, following a surprise incursion by the Hamas militant group. The retaliatory actions by Israel, including airstrikes, have resulted in significant casualties and displacement. The escalating situation underscores the urgent need for diplomatic efforts to address the humanitarian crisis and prevent further destabilization in the region.
