UN aid coordinator warns of 'serious acute malnutrition' in Gaza

By Merve Aydogan

TORONTO, Canada (AA) - The UN’s humanitarian coordinator ad interim for the Occupied Palestinian Territory warned Wednesday of “serious acute malnutrition" in northern parts of Gaza.

"I do believe that conditions that people face in the north -- lack of access to clean water and sanitation, lack of adequate health care and lack of food supplies on a regular basis -- especially target some of the people who are the most vulnerable," said James McGoldrick, speaking to reporters virtually after a two-day visit to Gaza.

In response to a question from Anadolu on the rising death toll from hunger in Gaza amid Israel’s siege of the enclave, McGoldrick said he has seen various reports of emaciated children in Gaza, including a 14-day-old infant who died from starvation.

"I think it's quite predictable to see that there will be really serious acute malnutrition in these areas," he added.

Deaths due to starvation were also noted in McGoldrick's report, but also in the reports of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and other UN organizations.

McGoldrick further emphasized that there are a lot of preventable deaths.

On US officials' emphasis on the need to achieve a cease-fire in Gaza before the start of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan later this month, he said: "Your point on Ramadan was well taken. In a camp, I met yesterday with a woman who stressed how unhappy and concerned they were that they were unable to celebrate Ramadan properly."

"I think it's something that will cause a real degree of consternation, shall we say, for families throughout (the enclave), and so many if not all families in Gaza will struggle to celebrate Ramadan in any normal way," he added.

McGoldrick emphasized that there are "enormous and growing needs for over 2.3 million people living in appalling conditions."

While preparing for a cease-fire on one hand, he said that on the other hand, the people of Gaza also need to plan what they would do in the event of a military operation against Rafah.

He noted that chronic diseases are becoming more prevalent, the health care system is collapsing and the lack of clean water and hygiene poses a significant problem.

"We have to fix things so much in the context of Gaza for women, for children, for vulnerable groups, the disabled and others," he said, while warning of "catastrophic levels" of hunger in northern parts of Gaza.

"We have to get up to at least 300 trucks a day. Right now, we're lucky if we're getting about 150," he said.

Asked about the difference that humanitarian aid via airdrops make, McGoldrick said they do help, but they are "no alternative to food trucks, to road transport. We're talking about bulk requirements."

Noting that aid trucks provide approximately 10 times more assistance compared to airdrops, he emphasized that aid trucks directly reach those in need.

McGoldrick further pointed out that some of the airdropped aid ends up in the sea and some is seized by the powerful instead of reaching those who truly need it.

Israel has waged a deadly military offensive, now in its 152nd day, on the Gaza Strip since an Oct. 7 attack by the Palestinian group Hamas, which Tel Aviv said killed nearly 1,200 people.

More than 30,700 Palestinians have since been killed and over 72,000 others injured amid mass destruction and shortages of necessities.

Israel has also imposed a crippling blockade on the Gaza Strip, leaving its population, particularly residents of northern Gaza, on the verge of starvation.

The Israeli war has pushed 85% of Gaza’s population into internal displacement amid acute shortages of food, clean water and medicine, while 60% of the enclave's infrastructure has been damaged or destroyed, according to the UN.

Israel stands accused of genocide at the International Court of Justice. An interim ruling in January ordered Tel Aviv to stop genocidal acts and take measures to guarantee that humanitarian assistance is provided to civilians in Gaza.