<\/p>\n
09 July 2024<\/p>\n
The recent deaths of more Palestinian children due to hunger and malnutrition leaves no doubt that famine has spread across the entire Gaza strip, a group of independent experts* said today.<\/p>\n
\u201cFayez Ataya, who was barely six months old, died on 30 May 2024 and 13-year-old Abdulqader Al-Serhi died on 1 June 2024 at the Al-Aqsa Hospital in Deir Al-Balah. Nine-year-old Ahmad Abu Reida died on 3 June 2024 in the tent sheltering his displaced family in Al-Mawasi, Khan Younis. All three children died from malnutrition and lack of access to adequate healthcare,\u201d the experts said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWith the death of these children from starvation despite medical treatment in central Gaza, there is no doubt that famine has spread from northern Gaza into central and southern Gaza.\u201d<\/p>\n
The experts said the death of a child from malnutrition and dehydration indicates that health and social structures have been attacked and are critically weakened. \u201cWhen the first child dies from malnutrition and dehydration, it becomes irrefutable that famine has taken hold,\u201d the experts said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe declare that Israel\u2019s intentional and targeted starvation campaign against the Palestinian people is a form of genocidal violence and has resulted in famine across all of Gaza. We call upon the international community to prioritise the delivery of humanitarian aid by land by any means necessary, end Israel\u2019s siege, and establish a ceasefire.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen a 2-month-old baby and 10-year-old Yazan Al Kafarneh died of hunger on 24 February and 4 March respectively, this confirmed that famine had struck northern Gaza. The whole world should have intervened earlier to stop Israel\u2019s genocidal starvation campaign and prevented these deaths,\u201d the experts said. \u201cThirty-four Palestinians have died from malnutrition since 7 October, the majority being children. Inaction is complicity.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
The experts: Michael Fakhri,<\/strong>\u00a0Special Rapporteur on the right to food<\/strong><\/a><\/em>; Balakrishnan Rajagopal,<\/strong>\u00a0Special Rapporteur on the right to adequate housing<\/strong><\/a><\/em>, Tlaleng Mofokeng,<\/strong>\u00a0Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health<\/strong><\/a><\/em>,<\/strong>\u00a0Francesca Albanese,<\/strong>\u00a0Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian Territory occupied since 1967<\/strong><\/a><\/em>;\u00a0Pedro Arrojo-Agudo,<\/strong>\u00a0Special Rapporteur on the human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation<\/strong><\/a><\/em>, Paula Gaviria Betancur,<\/strong>\u00a0Special Rapporteur on the human rights of internally displaced persons<\/strong><\/a><\/em>; George Katrougalos<\/strong>,\u00a0Independent Expert on the promotion of a democratic and equitable international order<\/strong><\/a><\/em>;<\/strong>\u00a0Barbara G. Reynolds (Chair), Bina D\u2019Costa, Dominique Day and Catherine Namakula<\/strong>,\u00a0Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent<\/strong><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"