The WFP are already working to reopen bakeries across the enclave, including in northern Gaza. As of Saturday, there are now 12 WFP-supported operational bakeries: six in Deir Al Balah, four in Gaza City, and two in Jabalia.
But WFP Country Director, Matthew Hollingworth, said that where these efforts have achieved “some small levels of food security,” it remains “essential for commercial fresh food to enter northern Gaza.”
The IPC also emphasised the importance of delivering malnutrition prevention services and treatment for acute cases.
“We know how to prevent malnutrition, we know how to treat malnutrition, but we aren’t being given the opportunity to do it,” said Rachel Cummings, Save the Children’s Team Leader in Gaza.
“Previously healthy communities are just wasting away. We’re seeing increases in children with diarrhoea, jaundice, respiratory conditions, which are all the illnesses that, when combined with extreme hunger, can kill a child in days.”
Earlier this month, the UN’s child agency (Unicef) warned that Israel’s Rafah offensive cut off almost 3,000 children in southern Gaza from treatment for moderate and severe acute malnutrition.
“An entire generation of Palestinian children are at risk,” warned Islamic Relief on Tuesday. “With extreme hunger and malnutrition causing permanent damage such as stunted physical and cognitive development that will affect children for the rest of their lives.”
The Israeli government has been approached for comment.
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