Gaza: The head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) has criticized proposed humanitarian airdrops over the Gaza Strip, describing them as a 'distraction' from the severe humanitarian crisis in the region. Philippe Lazzarini made these remarks in response to a media report suggesting Israel would permit airdrops by Western countries for a limited period starting Friday. However, no such airdrops have been observed.
According to Anadolu Agency, Lazzarini emphasized that airdrops would not alleviate the escalating starvation in Gaza, calling them costly and inefficient. He warned they could even pose risks to starving civilians. Instead, he advocated for the delivery of aid through land routes, highlighting this method as more efficient, cost-effective, and dignified for the residents of Gaza. Lazzarini urged for political action to end the crisis, calling for the lifting of the siege and unrestricted access for aid deliveries.
On Saturday, Gaza's Health Ministry reported the deaths of five more Palestinians, including two children, from hunger and malnutrition, raising the death toll since October 2023 to 127, with 85 of them being children. The government media office in Gaza issued a warning about the risk of mass deaths among over 100,000 children under the age of 2 due to a lack of milk and nutritional supplements amid the ongoing blockade by Israel.
UN and local organizations have sounded alarms over the potential for widespread child fatalities as Israeli restrictions on aid continue, leading to a collapse of Gaza's healthcare system. Since March 2, Israel has shut all border crossings with Gaza, worsening the area's humanitarian conditions by blocking aid trucks.
Despite international calls for a ceasefire, the Israeli military has continued its offensive on Gaza since October 7, 2023, resulting in over 59,700 Palestinian deaths, predominantly women and children. The ongoing bombardment has devastated the enclave and exacerbated food shortages.
In response to the situation, the International Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. Additionally, Israel is facing a genocide case at the International Court of Justice concerning its actions in the enclave.