August 25, 2025 | 04:57 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The famine crisis in Gaza is a direct result of obstructed aid delivery by Israel, not a lack of available food, according to UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell on Sunday, amid reports of children dying from starvation.
"Children have been spending months and months without sufficient food," Russell told CBS, as reported by Anadolu. She added, "We see just a horrible situation where children are on the verge of starvation and ultimately dying from starvation."
Russell, a lawyer from the United States, emphasized that the crisis could have been prevented, stating that food supplies are available nearby but cannot reach residents in need.
"This did not happen because there were cyclones or droughts. This happened because we could not get enough aid in to these children," she said.
In response to the Israeli government's denial of famine conditions, Russell defended the UN's assessment. She explained that the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), which confirmed the presence of famine in northern Gaza, is conducted by independent experts. This classification relies on key indicators, including levels of food scarcity, malnutrition rates, and the number of famine-related deaths.
"We know children are dying, right? I am tired of a discussion about ...(whether) are we giving the right information or not," Russell asserted.
Russell also stated that the IPC is compiled by "technical people," not "political people," and that there is a simple way for Israel to demonstrate the truth to the world.
"First of all, let the international press in," Russell said. "Let them make determinations. I mean, we’ve talked about this, Margaret, of you coming. ... Everyone should be able to get in there."
During the broadcast of "Face the Nation," it was noted that footage of malnourished children was captured by journalists within Gaza, as international journalists have not been granted access.
As reported by Politico, Russell added, "I have spoken to our staff, and they are seeing children who are incredibly deprived, many thousands of children who have had amputations, and are, you know, it’s just one terrible thing after another for children."
Russell also criticized the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), an aid distribution mechanism operated by Israel, stating that its methods contradict humanitarian standards. She noted that the UN was previously able to operate 400 aid distribution points, while the GHF relies on only four. "Just let us our let us do our work, too. Let us in. We know how to do this distribution," she insisted.
In March, Israel closed all crossings into Gaza, which effectively halted humanitarian aid. Since late May, Israel has unilaterally enforced distribution via the GHF, bypassing the role of the UN and other major aid agencies. The Gaza Health Ministry has reported that this new mechanism has led to the deaths of more than 2,000 Palestinians and injured over 15,000 others while they were waiting for aid.
On Friday, the IPC confirmed that famine has struck northern Gaza and is projected to spread to the southern region by the end of September. Since October 2023, Israeli attacks have resulted in the deaths of over 62,600 Palestinians in Gaza, devastating the region and rendering it largely uninhabitable.
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