A humanitarian crisis is unfolding in Gaza.
As the Israel Hamas war continues between the struggle to
bring aid in and an inadequate water supply,
parts of Gaza are experiencing A famine.
ABC News takes a look at key developments in the
aid and hunger crisis.
On October 7th, 2023, Hamas launches a surprise terrorist attack
in southern Israel,
and Israel responds by declaring war against Hamas the day
after.
But though Israel didn't start this war,
Israel will finish it. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Galant orders
a quote complete siege of Gaza on October 9th,
cutting electricity to the region and blocking fuel and food
from entering the territory from Israel.
Two days later, the sole remaining power station,
the Gaza power plant, runs out of fuel.
First trucks of humanitarian aid enter Gaza on October 21st
as the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and the Gaza
Strip opens.
However, the border quickly closes again after 20 trucks carrying
supplies including food,
medicine and water crossed into Gaza from the Egyptian side.
According to Egyptian state media,
74 trucks will enter over the next 5 days.
So today I'm pleased to say that another
66 trucks got into Gaza over the last 24 hours.
It's the highest single day delivery so far,
but again, it's a trickle compared to what needs to
get in.
Philippe Lazzarini, Commissioner General of UNRWA United Nations Relief and
Works Agency,
tells Al Jazeera that 70%
of people have no access to clean water in southern
Gaza,
where most of the population has fled to a month
since war was declared.
On December 12th Israel opens Karim Shalom border crossing to
allow more aid into Gaza.
For the past few years the crossing had been a
commercial crossing.
It was used to get humanitarian aid into Gaza before
it was put under blockade in
2007. December 21st, the IPC Initiative releases a report saying
100%
of the population in Gaza is experiencing a hunger crisis.
And that quote virtually all households are skipping meals every
day.
On February 20th, 2024, the World Food Program Aun Food
Agency announces it is suspending food deliveries to northern Gaza
until conditions improve for safer distribution because it endured,
quote, complete chaos and violence due to the collapse of
civil order.
Some aid organizations have accused Israel of not providing enough
authorization to deliver sufficient aid,
and even when it does give authorization,
heavy fighting makes it difficult to deliver that aid.
Israel denies the accusations and said the UN,
its partners and other aid agencies have created logistical challenges
resulting in a bottleneck.
The Israeli government said Hamas often steals aid meant for
civilians.
The UN and Hamas dispute their respective claims.
the US conducts its first air drop of food aid
to Gaza on March 2nd.
Air dropping pallets with more than
38,000 ready to eat meals.
Reports will later emerge that some Gazans are drowning trying
to obtain AirDrop packages that fall into the sea.
Five months into the war,
according to the Hamas run Gaza Ministry of Health,
at least 20 people have died from malnutrition and dehydration,
while WFP reports that enough food to quote feed the
entire population is sitting outside Gaza
on March 15th in a since deleted post on X.
Israeli officials claim an average of
126 trucks are entering Gaza daily and that there is
no limit on the amount of aid that can enter
Gaza.
But a new report released on March 18th from the
IPC Initiative says famine is quote imminent in northern Gaza.
Seven aid workers were killed during an IDF attack on
April 1st,
with footage of the aftermath emerging the next day.
It was a mistake that followed A misidentification at night
during a war in a very complex conditions.
It shouldn't have happened. The organization says it plans to
pause its operations in the region,
and several charities announced they are pulling out of Gaza
April 5th. Israel agrees to allow more aid into Gaza
amid new pressure from the US.
468 aid trucks enter Gaza on April 9th,
according to Israeli officials, the highest number in a single
day since the war began.
The following day, on April 10th,
US Agency for International Development Administrator Samantha Power testified on
Capitol Hill that is quote credible to assess that famine
is occurring in parts of Gaza
as communities barrel toward famine,
as cholera and measles spread.
As violence continues to claim countless lives,
the world has largely remained silent.
And that must change. And it has to change now.
The international community must give more,
it must do more and it has to care more.