UN Human Rights Spokesperson Jeremy Laurence on the risk of famine in Gaza

“The projected imminent famine in Gaza can and must be prevented.

The alarm bells sounded over the past months by the UN, including our Office, have not been heeded. This catastrophe is human-made and was entirely preventable,” the UN Human rights spokesperson said.

“The situation of hunger, starvation and famine is a result of Israel’s extensive restrictions on the entry and distribution of humanitarian aid and commercial goods, displacement of most of the population, as well as the destruction of crucial civilian infrastructure,” Laurence stated.

“Dangerous coping strategies are already emerging, in the face of starvation. Law and order is breaking down as people become increasingly desperate, and children have reportedly been sent to make the dangerous journey from northern to southern Gaza, unaccompanied in the desperate hope that they will find food and support among the 1.8 million people already displaced there,” he said.

Israel, as the occupying power, has the obligation to ensure the provision of food and medical care to the population commensurate with their needs and to facilitate the work of humanitarian organisations to deliver that assistance.

“Israel, as the occupying power, has the obligation to ensure the provision of food and medical care to the population commensurate with their needs and to facilitate the work of humanitarian organisations to deliver that assistance,” Laurence said.

“There needs to be full restoration of essential services, including the supply of food, water, electricity and fuel.

And there needs to be an immediate ceasefire, as well as the unconditional release of hostages,” Laurence said.

“It's heart-breaking, preventable and must stop the suffering, and you've heard us say this before, the suffering of the people in Gaza is unconscionable. It really is. It is a collective stain on humanity,” he said.

Laurence added “We've watched malnourished children suffering. We know of amputations without anaesthesia. Children, as the high commissioner said, I've been heading south and unaccompanied. Could you imagine the fear? Can you imagine the desperation?

ENDS

In Geneva:

Ravina Shamdasani - + 41 22 917 9169 / ravina.shamdasani@un.org or Jeremy Laurence - + 41 22 917 9383 / jeremy.laurence@un.org or Marta Hurtado - + 41 22 917 9466 / Ravina Shamdasani .hurtadogomez@un.orgor Thameen Al-Kheetan - + 41 76 223 77 62 / thameen.alkheetan@un.org