Five days after the United Nations declared famine in Gaza, the situation remains dire, with international aid groups warning that nothing has changed on the ground.
Despite the UN’s unprecedented announcement, Palestinians — especially children — continue to die of hunger while enduring relentless Israeli airstrikes and shelling.
On Tuesday, August 26, Gaza’s Health Ministry reported three additional famine-related deaths in the past 24 hours, according to Al Jazeera. The updated toll now stands at 303 dead, including 117 children. This comes on top of the daily casualties caused by bombardments that strike indiscriminately, killing civilians, doctors, journalists, and humanitarian workers alike.
UN Alarm, Global Inaction
When the UN declared famine on August 22, it warned that more than half a million people in Gaza are at immediate risk of starvation. The declaration was directed both at Israel, accused of deliberately obstructing aid, and at the international community, urged to act swiftly.
Yet, nearly a week later, aid agencies report that the situation remains unchanged. Israel continues to block humanitarian convoys, while international powers have failed to respond meaningfully.
The United States has stood firmly behind Israel, rejecting the UN’s findings and denying the existence of famine. European governments, for their part, have limited their response to statements of concern and symbolic condemnations. Occasionally, threats of sanctions are voiced, but no concrete measures have followed — a passivity critics say amounts to silent complicity.
Meanwhile, Gaza’s children continue to pay the highest price, as famine tightens its grip on an already besieged population.
