Geneva, The UN Committee on the Rights of the Child has issued a stark warning about the dire situation in the Gaza Strip, where children face imminent famine and catastrophic food insecurity due to the ongoing conflict. The committee urgently calls for an immediate ceasefire to prevent further child deaths from starvation and malnutrition.
According to Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, children in North Gaza are on the brink of famine, with reports of malnutrition and dehydration deaths already emerging. The Gazan Health Ministry has reported 27 child deaths attributable to these causes, though the actual number is likely higher and expected to rise. The committee highlighted the acute suffering of children, noting instances where the scarcity of food has become so severe that children are publicly expressing their distress and longing for basic necessities like bread.
The situation has deteriorated rapidly, with a recent nutrition screening conducted by UNICEF and its partners revealing that one in three children under two years old in the Northern Gaza Strip suffers from acute malnutrition, a significant increase from earlier in the year. Experts from the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification project that famine could occur in the northern governorates between now and May 2024, affecting approximately 1.11 million people, half the population of the Gaza Strip, with catastrophic food insecurity by mid-July if the conflict escalates further.
The committee’s statement reiterates calls for a ceasefire, referencing an interim ruling by the International Court of Justice which found plausible rights claims under the Genocide Convention. It urges Israel to comply with the court’s order to prevent acts that could be construed as genocidal and to allow the provision of humanitarian assistance.
Amid reports of escalating violence and a potential invasion of Rafah that could put 600,000 children at immediate risk of famine, the committee appeals to all parties, including the UN General Assembly and Security Council, to agree to an immediate humanitarian ceasefire. It also calls for increased funding for UNRWA and the opening of land border crossings to ensure the delivery of much-needed aid to all areas of Gaza, emphasizing the need for security assurances and unimpeded passage to aid all children affected by the conflict.