Jolien Veldwijk, CARE Palestine Country Director said:
“The testimonies of our colleagues and partners, combined with the analysis of technical experts are clear – famine is happening in Gaza. Palestinians are suffering a manmade famine, caused by Israel’s siege and the deliberate obstruction of aid, fuelled by the inaction of world leaders. Using starvation as a weapon is a war crime under international humanitarian law. The haunting images of emaciated children are evidence of a failure of humanity to act.
“More than 100 deaths from malnutrition have been recorded already. Sadly, we know this will accelerate in the coming days. It is already too late to save the lives of many of the most vulnerable, including the elderly, disabled and infants. Over 40% of pregnant and breastfeeding women are severely malnourished, while nearly one in five children under the age of five in Gaza City is acutely malnourished. Bringing people back from the brink of starvation requires specialized medical treatment, not just food and water. For many, especially children, the damage will be permanent.
“After more than 20 months of political inaction, world leaders must finally take decisive action. We urge the international community to finally secure an immediate and lasting ceasefire, the release of hostages and arbitrarily detained people, and full, safe, unhindered, immediate and sustained access to principled humanitarian aid to all people in need in Gaza. Israeli authorities must end the siege on Gaza, immediately open all border crossings to let aid in and allow humanitarians to do our jobs safely.”
ENDS
For media enquiries contact Briony FitzGerald on 0404 117 927
About CARE International
CARE is a leader within a worldwide movement dedicated to ending poverty. From emergency response to long-term sustainable solutions, CARE is known for our unshakeable commitment to the dignity of all people. We work to support women and girls, so we can effectively address the root causes of poverty and create pathways to economic freedom for all. We do this in partnership with men and boys and community leaders locally, regionally, and globally. For nearly 80 years, CARE has been there, from the first CARE Packages® delivering relief in Europe after World War II, to every major global crisis since. Our long-term development programs and trusted local leadership continue to impact the lives of millions of people around the world.
About CARE Australia
CARE Australia is one member of the global CARE Confederation. CARE Australia supports women and girls around the globe to save lives, defeat poverty and achieve social justice. We work in partnership with local communities to provide equal opportunities for women and girls to be educated and to earn an income, gain access to essential resources like food, health care and clean water, and to be able to withstand and recover from the increasing impacts of disasters, conflict and other crises. Our programs focus on women and girls because we know when one woman breaks the cycle of poverty she brings four others with her – and that’s a powerful multiplier of impact.
