Gaza Strip Residents Say Youngest Child Has Never Tasted Fruit Amid Famine
A UN-backed report confirms a man-made famine in Gaza, with over half a million people facing catastrophic hunger.
Gaza Strip residents describe severe food shortages after a UN report declared famine in the territory for the first time.
Reem Tawfiq Khader, a 41-year-old mother of five from Gaza City, said the famine declaration arrived too late. "We haven’t eaten any protein for five months. My youngest child, four, has never seen or tasted fruit and vegetables."
The UN says Israel has heavily limited aid entry into Gaza, a claim Israel disputes. Israel also denies any starvation, contradicting more than 100 humanitarian groups and multiple UN agencies.
On Friday, the UN-backed Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) described an "entirely man-made" famine in Gaza City and its surroundings. It warned that over 500,000 people across Gaza face "catastrophic" conditions of starvation, destitution and death.
Rajaa Talbeh, 47, who fled her home in Gaza City’s Zeitoun district a month ago, now lives in a makeshift tent by the sea. She has lost 25kg and, suffering from gluten intolerance, cannot find affordable suitable food. "Isn’t it enough to endure daily bombardment and displacement? Now we face famine on top of it."
Since the conflict began in response to the 7 October Hamas-led attack on southern Israel, more than 62,000 people have died in Gaza, and at least 271—including 112 children—have perished from famine and malnutrition, according to Gaza’s health ministry.
Aseel, who lives in Gaza City, dropped from 56kg to 46kg in five months. She has not eaten meat or fruit in months and has spent her savings on basic ingredients. Her sister-in-law’s newborn also struggles for formula, which costs up to 180 shekels (£39) per can. "We have no food reserves; we live day by day," she said.
Over half a million Gazans now face famine conditions following a collapse in aid access and ongoing conflict.
This topic was reported by BBC.
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