Cindy McCain, executive director of the World Food Programme, expressed her belief that there is currently a “full-blown famine” occurring in northern Gaza.
“During an interview with Kristen Welker set to air Sunday on NBC’s “Meet The Press,” McCain expressed his perspective on conflicts that escalate and result in high emotions and, ultimately, famine. He emphasized the interconnectedness of these events, highlighting the unfortunate consequences that often arise during times of war.”
“There is a full-blown famine in the north, and it is spreading towards the south,” she explained.
Catch the entire interview this Sunday on NBC’s “Meet the Press.”
According to the United Nations, Gaza has been on the verge of famine since mid-March. While the official declaration of famine has not been made, the situation remains extremely dire.
In April, Samantha Power, the director of the U.S. Agency for International Development, made a significant statement acknowledging the presence of famine in certain areas of Gaza. This assessment, although not shared by other U.S. officials, is considered credible.
According to McCain, there hasn’t been an official declaration of famine yet. However, based on her organization’s observations and experiences on the ground, she is of the opinion that there is a “full-blown” issue in Gaza.
“It’s truly horrifying. It’s incredibly difficult to witness and equally challenging to hear,” McCain expressed in her interview.
In an optimistic tone, she expressed her hope for a ceasefire in Gaza, emphasizing the urgent need to provide people with faster access to food. McCain underscored the critical requirements of the people in Gaza, including water, sanitation, and medicine, which are all integral to addressing the pressing issue of famine.
Providing food aid to Gaza has faced challenges in the form of political resistance and threats of violence.
In early March, the U.S. took action to coordinate food drops into Gaza in response to the tragic incident where over 100 Palestinians lost their lives while trying to access aid in Northern Gaza. This move was made in an effort to provide much-needed assistance to the affected population. However, despite these efforts, humanitarian aid groups emphasized that the aid provided was only a small fraction of what is required to address the ongoing crisis in the region.
World Central Kitchen, a nonprofit organization based in the United States, has recently recommenced its operations on Monday. The organization, known for its remarkable feat of providing over 43 million meals across Gaza, had temporarily halted its activities after seven of its aid workers tragically lost their lives in an Israeli airstrike on April 1.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres acknowledged on Tuesday that there has been some progress in Gaza. However, he emphasized the importance of Israel’s cooperation in allowing and facilitating the delivery of humanitarian aid through land routes.
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called on the international community to take urgent action in order to prevent a completely avoidable famine caused by human activities.
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