170 NGOs: Palestinians in Gaza Face Death by Starvation or by Israeli Occupation Bullets
Geneva, July 02 (QNA) – More than 170 non-governmental organizations, including Oxfam, Doctors Without Borders, Save the Children, the Norwegian Refugee Council, and Amnesty International, have called for the dismantling of the food aid distribution mechanism in the Gaza Strip, over concerns that it is putting civilians at risk of death and injury.
“Palestinians in Gaza face an impossible choice: starve or risk being shot while trying desperately to reach food to feed their families”, the organizations said in a statement.
In their statement, the organizations called on countries around the world to pressure Israel to halt the Gaza humanitarian fund”s plan and restore the UN-coordinated aid distribution system.
In a related development, Doctors Without Borders said in a video conference that two of its small primary healthcare centers received 22 dead and 548 wounded over the past month, with the dead dying from chest and abdominal wounds.
Humanitarian Director for Save the Children in Gaza, Rachel Cummings, said that in more than 50% of the mass casualty incidents near food distribution sites, children have been shot and killed.
“Children have told us they want to die… to be with their mother or father who have been killed. They want to be in paradise because there is food and water”, Cummings added.
The food aid distribution mechanism in the Gaza Strip is facing increasing international criticism, given the lack of UN oversight. Many human rights organizations have described it as a “death trap,” given the repeated targeting of civilians by the Israeli occupation while trying to seek food. (QNA)
Source: Israeli Occupation Bullets