GAZA: More than five months into Israel's ground and air campaign, launched on October 7 attack, there are widespread shortages of food, medicines and clean water in Gaza, doctors and aid agencies said.

Kamal Adwan hospital caring for Fadi suffers from cystic fibrosis was taking medicine that his family can no longer find and eating carefully balanced variety of food no longer available in Palestinian enclave, according to his mother Shimaa al-Zant.

Others died in Gaza City's al-Shifa Hospital also in north, Ministry said and in southernmost city of Rafah, where UN relief agency says over 1 million Palestinians have sought refuge from Israel's offensive.

Reuters saw 10 badly malnourished children during visit last week to al-Awda health centre in Rafah, arranged with nursing staff who gave news agency unimpeded access to ward. Reuters was not able to independently verify deaths reported by ministry.

Without urgent action, famine will hit between now and May in northern Gaza, where 300,000 people are trapped by fighting, world's hunger watchdog, Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, said in review. Israel's COGAT, military body that handles aid transfers to Gaza, did not specifically respond to Reuters questions about deaths of children from hunger and dehydration.

It said Israel put no limits on amount of aid that can enter. USAID Administrator Samantha Power said in public statement that IPC assessment marked "Horrific milestone." She called on Israel to open more land routes and operate crossings at full capacity.

In response to question from Reuters about IPC report, senior Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri said Israel's Prime Minister Binyamin Netenyahu was "Defying world and pursuing killing of Palestinian people in Gaza by bombs and starvation."

Six-year-old Fadi al-Zant is acutely malnourished, his ribs protruding under leathery skin, his eyes sunken as he lays in bed at Kamal Adwan hospital.

"His condition is getting worse. He is getting weaker. she said in video obtained by Reuters from freelancer.

Published in The Daily National Courier, March, 20 2024

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