AhlulBayt News Agency: The Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, has warned of the growing risk of famine in the Gaza Strip due to Israel’s ongoing blockade. He stated that two million people are starving, while 116,000 tons of food remain stranded at the border.
Ghebreyesus made these remarks on Monday during the opening of the 78th session of the World Health Assembly, the highest decision-making body of the WHO, held in Geneva, Switzerland.
At the beginning of the session, the Philippine Health Minister, Teodoro Javier Herpes, was elected president of the assembly.
In his speech, Ghebreyesus highlighted that the UN organization had successfully prevented the spread of polio in Gaza through a vaccination campaign.
He warned that two months have passed since Israel imposed its latest blockade, exacerbating hunger across the Strip. He emphasized that while vast amounts of food remain blocked at the border, the deliberate restriction of aid entry is increasing the risk of famine.
Additionally, he noted that intensified fighting, evacuation orders, and restrictions on humanitarian aid have led to further casualties, as Gaza’s healthcare system has already collapsed.
Since October 7, 2023, Israel has carried out relentless attacks on Gaza, with the unconditional support of the United States. More than 174,000 Palestinians have been killed or wounded—most of them women and children—while over 11,000 remain missing. Hundreds of thousands have been displaced, further worsening the humanitarian crisis.
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