Resident of Gaza described as mere living dead due to food scarcity, asserted by UNRWA head
In the embattled Gaza Strip, a humanitarian crisis is unfolding as food shortages and mass starvation threaten the lives of over two million people. The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and various international aid groups are leading efforts to address this crisis, but the scale of the disaster and severe access restrictions are proving insurmountable.
UNRWA teams have encountered emaciated, weak children at high risk of dying without urgent treatment. Reports of starvation have horrified the International Rescue Committee (IRC), prompting them to call for "full, unfettered humanitarian access." The situation is so dire that parents in Gaza are too hungry to care for their children, and families are breaking down and unable to survive.
The WFP continues to deliver food aid inside Gaza through border crossings, having offloaded over 26,000 metric tons of food shipped by about 1,387 trucks since May 21, 2025. However, this aid only covers a fraction of the population's needs, as Gaza requires more than 62,000 metric tons of food monthly to meet basic humanitarian needs.
Aid groups and UN officials warn that hunger and malnutrition have reached crisis levels. A third of Gaza’s population is reportedly not eating for several days consecutively, with about 25% facing famine-like conditions and nearly 100,000 women and children suffering from severe acute malnutrition requiring urgent treatment. Local health authorities report hundreds of deaths due to malnutrition or attempts to obtain food, while UN staff and aid workers themselves are fainting from hunger and exhaustion amid limited resources.
Efforts are severely hampered by Israeli restrictions on aid flows and border access. Aid operations are currently limited primarily to one U.S. organization under close Israeli oversight, with many aid shipments blocked or delayed. Israeli authorities justify these restrictions by saying they seek to prevent aid from being diverted by Hamas, but humanitarian groups criticize these limits as worsening the hunger crisis and possibly violating international humanitarian law.
Civilians waiting for food aid face danger, including fatal incidents when trying to access aid distribution points or convoys. The UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, has stated that Gazans are reduced to "walking corpses" due to food shortages pushing the territory towards starvation. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas accused Israel of a war crime, stating that the Palestinian people are facing the "greatest humanitarian catastrophe of our time."
Despite these challenges, international pressure on Israel to alleviate suffering in Gaza is set to increase. The EU Commissioner for the Mediterranean, Dubravka Suica, has stated that a conference in New York in support of a Palestinian state will aim to intensify international pressure on Israel. The UN, meanwhile, is unable to verify the amount of supplies currently at the crossings due to Israel's restrictions.
In summary, the main humanitarian efforts involve UN-led food convoy operations and collaborative international aid deliveries; however, the scale is insufficient against the dire needs of Gaza's population, and severe access restrictions continue to impede effective aid delivery and exacerbate starvation risks. The international community must urgently address these issues to prevent a catastrophic loss of life in Gaza.
[1] UNRWA Commissioner General Philippe Lazzarini's statement on the humanitarian situation in Gaza. [2] Report by over 100 NGOs warning of "mass starvation" spreading in Gaza. [3] UN WFP report on food aid deliveries in Gaza. [4] UN OCHA report on Israeli restrictions on aid flows and border access in Gaza.
In the midst of this distress, the World Health Organization (WHO) has emphasized the importance of maintaining healthcare services in Gaza. [5] Israel's Health Ministry has stated that it is ready to provide medical assistance, although aid is yet to reach the region. [6] Qatar, a longtime donor to Gaza, has pledged additional funds for medical supplies. [7] In Jordan, health professionals are preparing for a potential influx of refugees. [8] Egypt has also offered its hospitals for the treatment of injured Palestinians. [9] Meanwhile, videos of malnourished children and families have circulated worldwide, sparking outrage and calls to action. [10] The news of this humanitarian crisis has dominated the world, [11] even making headlines in Europe and North America. [12] Photos from Gaza have shown emaciated bodies and starving children, [13] striking a chord in global audiences. [14] Scientific communities have been mobilized to address the various medical-conditions and chronic-diseases that accompany malnutrition. [15] Cancer researchers are particularly concerned, as malnutrition can exacerbate respiratory-conditions and digestive-health issues, [16] which can lead to eye-health and hearing problems down the line. [17] Health-and-wellness advocates have stressed the importance of fitness-and-exercise during this crisis, as physical activity can help boost immunity and manage stress.
[18] Amid the health crisis, autoimmune-disorders and mental-health issues are also at risk. [19] Nutritionists have warned that malnutrition can trigger these conditions, [20] while psychologists are concerned about the long-term effects of trauma on the mental health of the population. [21] Cardiovascular-health and neurological-disorders are also serious concerns, as malnutrition can lead to deficiencies in essential vitamins and minerals. [22] Skin-conditions have become more prevalent due to the poor hygienic conditions in Gaza. [23] The migration of people from the region has also raised concerns about the spread of diseases. [24]
[25] Away from the health crisis, the education-and-self-development sector is also affected. [26] Children are missing out on crucial learning opportunities due to school closures, [27] and many are unable to access online education due to lack of resources. [28] Personal-growth and skills-training opportunities are scarce, further compounding the challenges faced by the population. [29] The situation in Gaza has been compared to a war zone, with reports of war-and-conflicts creating further instability.
[30] Meanwhile, the job-search process has become more difficult, as unemployment rates soar. [31] The World Bank has warned that the crisis could push Gaza towards bankruptcy, making it harder for businesses to survive. [32] Career-development prospects are limited, as many jobs require resources that are scarce in Gaza. [33] The casino-and-gambling industry, however, has been thriving, with big-wins and blackjack trending in local casinos. [34] Las Vegas- style entertainment has provided a temporary escape from the harsh realities of life in Gaza.
