Tuesday, 02 January 2024 12:17 GMT

Gaza At 'Breaking Point', Says UN Food Agency Chief After Visit


(MENAFN- The Peninsula) AFP

Rome: The head of the UN's World Food Programme warned Thursday that famine-hit Gaza is "at breaking point", appealing for the urgent revival of its network of 200 food distribution points.

"Enough is enough," the WFP's executive director Cindy McCain said after visiting the besieged Palestinian territory, where Israel is pressing operations in its offensive against Hamas.

"Gaza is at a breaking point. Desperation is soaring -- and I saw it firsthand," McCain said in a statement.

Her comments come less than a week after the United Nations declared a famine in Gaza, blaming the "systematic obstruction" of humanitarian deliveries by Israel.

McCain went to Khan Younis and Deir el-Balah, where she visited a nutrition clinic keeping children alive and met with displaced mothers who struggle daily to find scraps of food.

"I met starving children receiving treatment for severe malnutrition -- and I saw photos of when they were healthy. Today they are unrecognizable," McCain said.

"We must urgently be able to revive our vast and trusted network of 200 food distribution points across the Strip, community kitchens and bakeries. It is urgent that the right conditions are in place so we can reach the most vulnerable and save lives", she said.

She also met Palestinian prime minister Mohammad Mustafa in Ramallah, the WFP said.

Israel is under mounting pressure both at home and abroad to end its almost two-year campaign.

The UN declared a famine in the Gaza governorate last week, but Israel has dismissed the report as "fabricated".

MENAFN28082025000063011010ID1109988793

Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.

Search