Epidemic among children under 5 in Gaza

Noting that hunger weakens the body's defenses and causes disease, Ghebreyesus stated, "There are increasing outbreaks of infectious diseases in Gaza.

Diarrhea cases among children under 5 are 25 times higher than before the conflict."

Underlining that such diseases can be fatal for malnourished children, Ghebreyesus stated that the lack of health services would also increase this risk.

Ghebreyesus said, "We need a ceasefire now (for Gaza)."

"PEOPLE ARE SUFFERING FROM EXTREME HUNGER"

In a statement on the website of the Geneva-based Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor, it was stated that the monitor interviewed 1,200 people in Gaza about their humanitarian situation.

It was noted that more than 71 percent of those participating in the survey were suffering from extreme hunger.

It was stated that 98 percent of the participants were malnourished, and 64 percent said they consumed grass, fruit, unripe food, and expired food to suppress their hunger.

The survey results showed that access to water in Gaza, including drinking and cleaning water, is 1.5 liters per person per day.

It was stated that 66 percent of the participants had suffered from diarrhea or intestinal diseases within the last month.

The statement emphasized that since the beginning of the genocide in Gaza, Israel has imposed a comprehensive blockade on the Gaza Strip, preventing food, water, fuel, and other humanitarian necessities from reaching more than 2.3 million Gazans.

Stating that Israel uses hunger as a weapon, the statement recalled that bakeries, factories, food warehouses, and water stations in Gaza were bombed.

The statement noted that "Gaza residents have been left in a food crisis" as part of "Israel's collective punishment policy."

Reminding that deliberately starving people in Gaza is a war crime, the statement called for a "permanent ceasefire" in Gaza.

LATEST SITUATION IN GAZA

The armed wing of Hamas, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, launched a comprehensive attack on Israel on October 7, citing "the need to respond to continuous violations against Palestinians and sacred values, especially the Al-Aqsa Mosque."

Israel announced that 1,200 Israelis were killed and 5,132 people were injured in the October 7 attacks.

In Israel's attacks on the Gaza Strip, more than 20,000 Palestinians, including at least 8,000 children and 6,200 women, have been killed, and more than 52,600 people have been injured. While it is reported that there are thousands of dead under the rubble, civilian infrastructure has been destroyed by targeting hospitals and educational institutions where the public has taken shelter.

The Israeli army announced that 466 of its soldiers have been killed since the start of its attacks on the Gaza Strip on October 7, 134 of whom were killed during the ground invasion process.

During the "humanitarian pause" in the clashes, which was granted for 4 days on November 24 and later extended for another 3 days, 81 Israeli and 240 Palestinian prisoners were released in exchange. On the other hand, Israel continued to detain and imprison thousands of Palestinians.

In the occupied West Bank and Jerusalem, 304 Palestinians have lost their lives in attacks by Israeli forces and illegal Jewish settlers.

In the clashes that have been ongoing on the border between the Israeli army and Hezbollah since October 8, 25 Lebanese civilians, 117 Hezbollah members, 5 Israeli civilians, and 6 Israeli soldiers have been killed.

1.9 million Palestinians, displaced under duress and blockade in Gaza, are struggling to survive without shelter, food, clean water, medicine, and health services.

News Source: AA