Gaza Faces Famine as Aid Efforts Fall Short
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Brussels, Belgium – The international community is intensifying calls for unimpeded land access to Gaza, as airdrops alone are deemed insufficient to avert a catastrophic famine in the Palestinian territory. Belgian Foreign Minister maxime Prevot emphasized the critical need for land-based deliveries, stating, “These airdrops are a first step, but they can in no way be a cover for the urgent need to facilitate access by land.” He pledged to continue advocating with Israeli authorities for the swift resumption of road-based aid.
Urgent Warnings of Famine
The gravity of the situation was underscored by a stark warning issued on July 29th by leading humanitarian organizations, including the World Food Programme, Unicef, and the Food and Agriculture Organisation. They declared that time was rapidly running out and that Gaza was “on the brink of a full-scale famine.”
Blockade and Limited Aid Resumption
Israel imposed a extensive blockade on Gaza on March 2nd, following the breakdown of ceasefire negotiations. While a limited flow of aid began to resume in late May amidst growing concerns about widespread starvation, these measures have proven inadequate.
“Tactical Pauses” and Airdrops
On July 27th, in response to mounting international pressure, Israel initiated a series of “tactical pauses” to allow aid trucks to pass through two border crossings. Concurrently, Jordanian and Emirati planes commenced airdrop operations. Despite an increase in deliveries, experts advising the UN have cautioned that these efforts will not be sufficient unless aid agencies are granted “immediate, unimpeded” humanitarian access.
Keywords: Gaza, Palestine, Belgium, Humanitarian aid, Disaster relief, UN, Famine, blockade, Airdrops, Land access, Aid deliveries.
