Washington [US], April 12: Samantha Power, the director of the US Agency for International Development (USAID), says that people in parts of northern Gaza have begun facing famine.
Her comments, made at a House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing on Wednesday, mark the first public admission by a US official that famine has started in parts of the Gaza Strip.
"Food has not flowed in sufficient quantities to avoid this imminent famine in the south, and these conditions are giving rise already to child deaths in the north," she said during an exchange with Congressman Joaquin Castro.
The UN Security Council has expressed "grave concern" over the "horrific" Israeli air raids that killed seven team members of the World Central Kitchen earlier this month and stressed the need for a "full, transparent and comprehensive investigation".
The 15-member body also said Israel must do more to improve aid delivery into the besieged and bombarded territory.
"The members of the Security Council reiterated their deep concern over the human toll of the conflict, the catastrophic humanitarian situation, and the threat of imminent famine in Gaza and called for the immediate lifting of all barriers to the delivery of humanitarian aid at scale to the civilian population and to the unhindered distribution of such assistance," its statement said.
"They took note of the announcement by Israel to open the Erez crossing and allow the use of the Ashdod port for aid deliveries into Gaza, but stressed that more should be done to bring the required relief given the scale of needs in Gaza."
Israel said last week it would temporarily reopen the Beit Hanoon (Erez) crossing with northern Gaza for aid, after a warning from United States President Joe Biden for it to take steps to protect civilians and humanitarian workers.Israeli army launches 'new war' on central GazaIsrael's attack on central Gaza continued following its retreat earlier this week from southern Khan Younis city after announcing a new phase in its military operation.
"It was as if the occupation army is launching a new war," Raouf Abed, 20, said via a chat app from Deir el-Balah to the south of the Nuseirat refugee camp, which was hit by air and naval strikes overnight, then a ground incursion during the day."The explosions were non-stop, the sounds came from different directions," Abed said. "Every time we hope there will be a ceasefire, Israel escalates the aggression as if they are trying to pressure Hamas by hitting on us, the civilians."
At least seven people have been reported killed in the Nuseirat attack. (Agencies)
Source: Qatar Tribune