The head of the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Thursday (March 21) that only the expansion of land crossings into Gaza could help prevent famine in the densely populated Palestinian enclave.
“Recent efforts to deliver food by air and sea are welcome, but only the expansion of land crossings will enable large scale deliveries to prevent famine,” said WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Five months of war have created critical food shortages among Gaza’s 2.3 million Palestinians that in some areas now exceed famine levels, according to the United Nations.
“The future of an entire generation is in serious peril,” Tedros said.
U.N. aid agencies have said “overwhelming obstacles” to moving aid to the north of Gaza will only be overcome with a ceasefire and the opening of border crossings closed by Israel after Oct. 7.
Tedros said WHO’s requests to deliver supplies to the enclave were often blocked or refused.
Israel’s offensive on Thursday focused on the Al Shifa hospital, the only partially working medical facility in the north of the Strip, for a fourth day. Tedros said WHO was particularly concerned about the military operations inside and around the facility.
Tedros also warned that a cholera outbreak in Haiti, which has been declining since the end of last year, could flare up again if current turmoil in the Caribbean island nation continues.
Violence has flared as armed gangs who have been increasing their power in recent years took advantage of the absence earlier this month of Prime Minister Ariel Henry.
More than 360,000 people are internally displaced in Haiti, according to U.N. estimates.
