The dead are already over 60,000 in Gaza and famine is spreading throughout society

Israel's offensive against Gaza since the autumn of 2023 is leaving the hardest moments. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has said that the Gaza Strip is experiencing an "epic humanitarian catastrophe." The dead are already over 60,000 and a third of the population is in a state of famine. Meanwhile, international pressure is mounting following the United Kingdom's announcement of recognition of the Palestinian state.

The Ministry of Health in Gaza has provided the latest data on deaths and injuries from the Israeli offensive following the attacks of 7 October 2023, bringing the number of deaths to 60 034, 113 in the last 24 hours.

The ministry noted that between Monday and Tuesday, at least 22 people were shot when Israeli troops were trying to obtain humanitarian aid.

So since the US-sponsored Israeli-Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) began operating in Gaza at the end of May, 1179 people have been shot dead by the Israeli army while waiting to receive food.

In more detail, the authorities have stressed that 8867 people have been killed and 33,829 injured since 18 March, when the Israeli army broke the truce with Hamas in January.

However, they fear that the number will increase because there are several areas where search and rescue teams cannot reach .

The UN warns of the serious risk of famine

In addition to the attacks, it is famine that has been destroying Gaza in recent months. The UN agencies warn that more than one in three inhabitants spend days without food.

According to data provided by the Ministry of Health in Gaza, the number of deaths from lack of food is already 150, of which 88are children.

Moreover, according to the UN, "more than 500 000 people (almost a quarter of the population of Gaza) are suffering from famine conditions similar to those of the Gaza Strip , while the rest of the population is facing emergency famine. "

Focusing on childhood, the UN has pointed out that in July more than 320,000 children (the total population under 5) are at risk of acute malnutrition , of which thousands have severe acute malnutrition, the deadliest form of malnutrition.

In June , 6,500 children were hospitalized for malnutrition treatment (the highest number since the beginning of the conflict), but in July this figure was even higher, with more than 5,000 children hospitalized in the first two weeks.

"Time is running out."

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) have warned that " time is running out to establish a large-scale humanitarian response ".

Ross Smith, director of the WFP, has said that the interruptions for theentry of humanitarian aid  are not enough. "The volumes of necessary humanitarian aid are not being met and should include not only food, but also health, medical or water supplies."

"It is necessary to give entry permits faster, not to have soldiers near convoys or distribution points, and of course not to shoot people who line up," he added.

He also recalled that during the truce that ended in March they managed to carry 200 trucks a day and distribute aid at more than 400 points.

The agencies have specified that "in order to meet the basic food and nutrition needs in Gaza alone, more than 62,000 tonnesof vital aid are needed each month ".