### Gaza Faces Catastrophic Hunger as Aid Blockades Persist

Nearly half a million people in Gaza are on the brink of severe hunger, the United Nations reports, due to an ongoing blockade on humanitarian aid and continuous Israeli military assaults. Children are bearing the brunt of this crisis, enduring death, injuries, and starvation, local healthcare professionals warn.

Dr. Ahmmed Al-Farra, head of pediatrics and maternity at Gaza's Nasser Medical Complex, described the humanitarian situation as "unbelievable." In an interview with ABC News, Al-Farra recounted seeing children succumb to hunger and treatable injuries—a reality he had only previously encountered in medical textbooks. He revealed that hospitals across Gaza are shutting down, either completely destroyed or rendered inoperative by repeated airstrikes. "If a patient in North Gaza has chest pain or is injured, he will lose his life," Al-Farra stated.

One poignant case is that of Siwar Ashour, a six-month-old girl who has become acutely malnourished and is struggling to survive. Despite being born relatively healthy, she now weighs just over 7 pounds, less than half the weight of an average American baby girl of the same age. According to Al-Farra, her severe malnutrition and lack of proper medical care leave her unable to regulate her body temperature. The hospital’s supply of emergency baby formula, provided by Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), is dwindling, he added.

The blockade, which began on March 2, was intensified following the collapse of a temporary ceasefire on March 18. Israeli officials claim the blockade aims to pressure Hamas to release hostages. Amid international outcry, Israel allowed five trucks of aid into Gaza on Monday and 100 trucks on Tuesday, but this aid has yet to be distributed. The UN has criticized these efforts as insufficient, likening them to "a drop in the ocean."

Dr. Al-Farra also highlighted the broader impact of the food crisis. He himself has not had fresh meat or chicken for over three months, a stark indication of the severe food scarcity facing even relatively well-off individuals. "If this is my reality, imagine what it's like for the people in the streets," he said.

Since the conflict erupted on October 7, 2023, with Hamas attacks that killed 1,200 people and led to 251 kidnappings, the toll on Gaza has been devastating. Over 53,000 Palestinians have been killed, with tens of thousands being women and children, according to the Hamas-run Gaza Ministry of Health.

Dr. Al-Farra's plea is urgent and heartfelt: "We’re asking for food, for medicine. They are not numbers on paper—they are human beings created by God. They have the right to survive."