Image Source: Reuters
Occupied Gaza Strip – Nebal Farsakh, spokesperson for the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS), described the situation in Gaza as “beyond catastrophic,” following Israeli airstrikes that killed at least 146 Palestinians over the weekend and left hundreds more injured.
In the wake of intensified Israeli military aggression, Farsakh stressed that the death toll was “not merely a statistic, but a profound human tragedy,” as families in Gaza face relentless bombardments with nowhere safe to turn.
Although Israel has designated areas as so-called “safe zones” for displaced civilians, Farsakh said there are no truly safe areas left in Gaza.
These zones have also come under fire and are now severely overcrowded, lacking shelter, food, clean water, and medical support. Families forced to flee often sleep in the streets, with no infrastructure and no guarantee of survival.
“Families are left without any safe place to go, and every day there are more evacuation orders for families who have no options. Every day, families have to make impossible decisions; if they stay, they will die; if they leave, they might also die, because there are no humanitarian corridors and they don’t know where to go, since there are no spaces or places left,” she said.
Aid Blockade Pushes Gaza to the Brink of Famine
Farsakh also warned that the ongoing blockade of humanitarian aid has brought Gaza to the edge of famine. Essential goods are either completely depleted or expected to run out within weeks.
The soaring cost of staples such as wheat flour has placed food far beyond the reach of most Palestinians, while at least 71,000 children are now suffering from acute malnutrition.
“This situation is causing a massive increase in malnutrition, with nearly 71,000 children at risk of acute malnutrition, including 14,000 severe cases.”
“This means people, especially children and pregnant women, are at risk of life-threatening conditions, suffering from extreme weight loss, weakness, and vulnerability to infections. Without urgent treatment, malnutrition can lead to death,” Farsakh stated.
The PRCS calls for the immediate opening of all border crossings to allow unrestricted humanitarian access.
Without the swift delivery of food, medicine, fuel, and other essentials, the already dire humanitarian crisis will only deepen, placing the most vulnerable, especially children, the sick, and the elderly, at even greater risk.
