UNICEF: Families in Gaza deprive themselves of food available to feed children

GAZA, Feb. 27 (YPA) – Over 95 percent of families in the Gaza Strip have reduced adult portions of food, to ensure that children get more meals, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said on Tuesday.

In a statement, UNICEF Deputy Executive Director for Humanitarian and Logistics Operations, Ted Chaiban, stressed the need for safe and unrestricted humanitarian access to affected populations where they are in the Strip.

He said that the Gaza Strip is about to witness an explosion in preventable child deaths.
The Global Nutrition Group reported that one out of two-year old six children in the Gaza Strip suffers from malnutrition, warning of a great danger to the lives and health of children.

On the other hand, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, UNRWA, announced earlier that famine in Gaza can be avoided if there is real political will to enter more food convoys are allowed to enter northern Gaza on a regular basis.

“UNRWA teams were last able to deliver food aid to northern Gaza on January 23 of last year,” UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini said.

He warned of a looming famine, calling for humanitarian aid to arrive in the Gaza Strip on a regular basis.

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