Latest news with #ShainaLow
Al-Ahram Weekly
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Al-Ahram Weekly
US-backed group eyes control of Gaza aid in Israel-style plan - War on Gaza
A group of American security contractors, ex-military officers, and humanitarian officials has put forward a proposal to take over the distribution of humanitarian aid in Gaza, modeled on plans devised by Israel. The proposal, which was obtained by the Associated Press, calls for a system that would replace current U.N. and international agencies, which have faced significant Israeli interference and attacks. Known as the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), the group aims to implement a framework similar to one Israel has been privately discussing with aid organizations. However, while the U.N. and humanitarian groups have strongly opposed Israel's plans to control aid distribution, it remains unclear whether the GHF's approach will resolve or exacerbate these concerns. Israel's ongoing blockade of Gaza, now in its 10th week, has left 2.3 million Palestinians without access to food, fuel, medicine, and basic supplies, deepening the humanitarian crisis. The Israeli government has maintained that it will not allow aid into Gaza until a distribution system is put in place that gives it oversight. The U.N. has condemned these plans, warning they would 'weaponize aid' and deprive Palestinians of critical relief. A shift in control The 14-page proposal circulated this week lays out plans for GHF to oversee Gaza's aid distribution, positioning itself as a replacement for U.N. efforts. GHF's leadership includes former U.S. military personnel, corporate executives, and individuals linked to private security companies. GHF proposes establishing centralized distribution hubs across Gaza, initially serving 1.2 million people with the eventual goal of scaling up to aid the entire population. The distribution sites would be protected by private security contractors using armored vehicles, raising fears of militarized control over humanitarian efforts and the displacement of large numbers of Palestinians as they are forced to relocate closer to these hubs. Humanitarian concerns Aid workers have expressed alarm over the proposal, warning that it could fail to meet Gaza's urgent needs and entrench the occupation by sidelining Palestinian institutions. Shaina Low, communications adviser for the Norwegian Refugee Council, described the plan as 'a Trojan horse for military and political goals,' adding that it could lead to the forced displacement of populations from certain areas of Gaza. The use of private security contractors has also drawn criticism. While private firms are often used in conflict zones, experts warn that GHF's reliance on such entities could undermine humanitarian law. Jamie Williamson, executive director of the International Code of Conduct Association, called for full vetting and oversight of all security personnel involved in the operation. The GHF proposal also raises questions about U.S. involvement. Backed by the Trump administration, the foundation is positioned as an alternative to the traditional U.N.-led aid system, with an emphasis on working 'within the confines' of Israel's imposed restrictions. However, many view this as an effort to shift control of Gaza's aid away from international organizations, further consolidating Israeli authority in the region. The proposal's leadership, which includes former Israeli officials and ties to private U.S. companies, would also sideline Palestinian governance, thus undermining prospects for a fair and independent aid distribution process. A dangerous precedent for Gaza For many aid workers, the GHF plan represents a dangerous departure from established humanitarian principles. Tamara Alrifai, communications director for the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), called the proposal 'logistically unworkable,' warning that it fails to match the current infrastructure needed to address Gaza's dire humanitarian crisis. Alrifai also raised concerns about the long-term consequences of abandoning existing aid systems, which are grounded in international law and established protocols. The U.N. and aid organizations have consistently emphasized the need for impartial and neutral assistance—values that are hard to reconcile with a plan that involves private contractors and the imposition of Israeli oversight. As such, the proposal risks shifting the balance of humanitarian aid away from international agencies. It has also sparked widespread concern that it will further militarize aid and entrench an occupation that has already inflicted irreparable harm on Gaza's population. *This story was edited by Ahram Online. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
Los Angeles Times
17-04-2025
- General
- Los Angeles Times
Aid groups: Thousands of children in Gaza are malnourished under Israel's blockade
DEIR AL BALAH, Gaza Strip — Aid groups are raising new alarm over Israel's blockade of the war-ravaged Gaza Strip, where it has barred entry of all food and other goods for more than six weeks. Thousands of children have become malnourished, and most people are barely eating one meal a day as stocks dwindle, the United Nations says. The humanitarian aid system in Gaza 'is facing total collapse,' the heads of 12 independent aid organizations warned in a joint statement. They said many groups have shut down operations because Israel's resumed bombardment the past month has made it too dangerous. Israeli strikes overnight into Thursday killed at least 23 people, including a family of 10. A strike in the southern city of Khan Yunis killed five children, four women and a man from the same family, all of whom suffered severe burns, according to Nasser Hospital, which received the bodies. Strikes in northern Gaza killed 13 people, including nine children, according to the Indonesian Hospital. The Israeli military says it targets Hamas militants and tries to limit civilian casualties. It often strikes homes, shelters and public areas, blaming Hamas for civilian deaths because it operates there. There was no immediate comment on the latest strikes. Israel ended a ceasefire on March 18 and renewed its bombardment, killing hundreds of people and seizing large parts of the territory to pressure Hamas to accept changes to the deal that would speed the release of hostages. The U.N. humanitarian office, known as OCHA, said almost all of Gaza's more than 2 million people now rely on charity kitchens, which can prepare only 1 million meals a day. The meals mainly consist of rice or pasta with no fresh vegetables or meat. Other food distribution programs have shut down for lack of supplies, and the U.N. and other aid groups have been sending their remaining stocks to the charity kitchens. The only other way to find food in Gaza is from markets. But prices are spiraling and shortages are widespread, meaning humanitarian aid is the primary food source for 80% of the population, the World Food Program said in its monthly report for April. 'The Gaza Strip is now likely facing the worst humanitarian crisis in the 18 months' since the war began, OCHA said. Most people in Gaza are now down to one meal a day, said Shaina Low, a spokesperson for the Norwegian Refugee Council. 'It's far lower than what is needed,' she said. Water is also growing scarce, with Palestinians standing in long lines to fill jerry cans from trucks. Omar Shatat, an official with a local water utility, said people are down to six or seven liters per day, well below the amount the U.N. estimates is needed to meet basic needs. In March, more than 3,600 children were newly admitted for treatment for acute malnutrition, up from around 2,000 the month before, according to OCHA, which said 'the rapid deterioration of the nutrition situation is already visible.' Aid groups are also less able to treat malnourished children because of Israel's airstrikes and ground operations. In March, the number of children under 5 that aid workers could supply with nutrient supplements fell 70% from February, down to 22,300 children — a fraction of the 29,000 children they aim to reach. Only around 100 of the original 173 treatment sites still function, OCHA said. 'Humanitarians have been forced to watch people suffer and die while carrying the impossible burden of providing relief with depleted supplies, all while facing the same life-threatening conditions themselves,' said Amande Bazerolle, the emergency coordinator in Gaza for Doctors Without Borders. 'This is not a humanitarian failure — it is a political choice, and a deliberate assault on a people's ability to survive, carried out with impunity,' she said in a statement. A survey of 47 aid groups found that 95% of them have reduced or entirely halted their operations, mainly because it was too dangerous amid Israeli bombardment, according to the joint statement by the heads of humanitarian organizations, which included the Norwegian Refugee Council, Oxfam, Save the Children, CARE and Medical Aid for Palestinians. Since resuming the war, Israel has largely stopped coordinating with humanitarian groups over their movements in Gaza. That means aid workers have no assurance the military won't strike them. COGAT, the military agency in charge of aid coordination in Gaza, acknowledged stopping the system, which had been in place before the ceasefire. Since mid-March, Israeli fire has hit the staff or facilities of at least 14 organizations, and around 60 aid workers have been killed, according to the statement. 'When our staff and partners, our convoys, our offices, our warehouses are shelled, the message is loud and clear: even lifesaving aid is no longer protected,' the 12 aid organization heads said. 'This is unacceptable.' Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said Wednesday that blocking aid is one of the 'central pressure tactics' used against Hamas, which Israel accuses of siphoning off aid to maintain its rule. Aid workers deny there is significant diversion of aid, saying the U.N. closely monitors distribution of supplies. Israel is demanding that Hamas release more hostages at the start of any new ceasefire and ultimately agree to disarm and leave the territory. Katz said that even afterward Israel will continue to occupy large 'security zones' inside Gaza. Hamas is currently holding 59 hostages, 24 of whom are believed to be alive. It says it will only return them in exchange for the release of more Palestinian prisoners, a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and a lasting truce, as called for in the now-defunct ceasefire agreement reached earlier this year. Hani Almadhoun, co-founder of Gaza Soup Kitchen, said his kitchen has food for about three more weeks. 'But food is loosely defined. We have pasta and rice but nothing much beyond that. No fresh produce. There is no chicken or beef. The only thing we have is canned meat,' he said. Up to one in five of those who come to his kitchen for food leave empty-handed, he said.. The war began when Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting 251. Most of the hostages have since been released in ceasefire agreements or other deals. Israel has rescued eight and recovered dozens of bodies. Israel's offensive has killed more than 51,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which does not say how many of the dead were civilians or combatants. Israel says it has killed around 20,000 militants, without providing evidence. The war has destroyed vast parts of Gaza and most of its food production capabilities. The war has displaced around 90% of the population, with hundreds of thousands of people living in tent camps and bombed-out buildings. Shurafa, Khaled and Keath write for the Associated Press. Khaled and Keath reported from Cairo.
Arab News
17-04-2025
- General
- Arab News
Aid groups: Thousands of children in Gaza are malnourished amid Israel's blockade
DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip: Aid groups are raising new alarm over Israel's blockade of the war-ravaged Gaza Strip, where no food or other supplies have been allowed in for more than six weeks. Thousands of children are malnourished, and most people are only eating one meal every other day, the United Nations says. Israel ended a ceasefire last month and renewed its bombardment, killing hundreds of people and seizing large parts of the territory to pressure Hamas to accept changes to the deal that would speed the release of hostages. Israeli strikes overnight into Thursday killed at least 23 people, including a family of 10. A strike in the southern city of Khan Younis killed five children, four women and a man from the same family, all of whom suffered severe burns, according to Nasser Hospital, which received the bodies. Strikes in northern Gaza killed 13 people, including nine children, according to the Indonesian Hospital. The Israeli military says it tries to avoid harming civilians and blames their deaths on Hamas because it operates in residential areas. There was no immediate comment on the latest strikes. Nearly all rely on charity kitchens The UN humanitarian office, known as OCHA, said that almost all of Gaza's more than 2 million people now rely on charity kitchens supported by aid groups, which can prepare just 1 million meals a day. Other food distribution programs have shut down for lack of supplies, and the UN and other aid groups have been sending their remaining stocks to the charity kitchens. The only other way to get food in Gaza is from markets. But prices are spiraling and shortages are widespread, meaning humanitarian aid is the primary food source for 80 percent of the population, the World Food Program said in its monthly report for April. 'The Gaza Strip is now likely facing the worst humanitarian crisis in the 18 months since the escalation of hostilities in October 2023,' OCHA said. Most people in Gaza are now down to one meal a day, said Shaina Low, a spokesperson for the Norwegian Refugee Council. 'It's far lower than what is needed,' she said. Water is also growing scarce, with Palestinians standing in long lines to fill jerry cans from trucks. Omar Shatat, an official with a local water utility, said people are down to six or seven liters per day, well below the amount the UN estimates is needed to meet basic needs. More hungry children, and they are harder to reach In March, more than 3,600 children were newly admitted for treatment for acute malnutrition, up from around 2,000 the month before, according to OCHA, which said 'the rapid deterioration of the nutrition situation is already visible.' At the same time, aid groups' ability to treat malnourished children is hampered by Israel's airstrikes and ground operations, which resumed on March 18. In March, the number of children under 5 that aid workers could supply with nutrient supplements fell 70 percent from February, down to 22,300 children – a fraction of the 29,000 children they aim to reach. Only 60 percent of the 173 treatment sites are operating, and demand for the dwindling supplies is rising, OCHA said. 'Humanitarians have been forced to watch people suffer and die while carrying the impossible burden of providing relief with depleted supplies, all while facing the same life-threatening conditions themselves,' said Amande Bazerolle, the emergency coordinator in Gaza for Doctors Without Borders. 'This is not a humanitarian failure — it is a political choice, and a deliberate assault on a people's ability to survive, carried out with impunity,' she said in a statement. Israel says the blockade is a pressure tactic Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said Wednesday that preventing humanitarian aid is one of the 'central pressure tactics' used against Hamas, which Israel accuses of siphoning off aid to maintain its rule. Israel is demanding that Hamas release more hostages at the start of any new ceasefire and ultimately agree to disarm and leave the territory. Katz said that even afterward Israel will continue to occupy large 'security zones' inside Gaza. Hamas is currently holding 59 hostages, 24 of whom are believed to be alive. It says it will only return them in exchange for the release of more Palestinian prisoners, a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and a lasting truce, as called for in the now-defunct ceasefire agreement reached earlier this year. Hani Almadhoun, co-founder of Gaza Soup Kitchen, said his kitchen has food for about three more weeks. 'But food is loosely defined. We have pasta and rice but nothing much beyond that. No fresh produce. There is no chicken or beef. The only thing we have is canned meat,' he said. He said 15-20 percent of the people who come to his kitchen for food leave empty-handed. The war began when Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting 251. Most of the hostages have since been released in ceasefire agreements or other deals. Israel has rescued eight and recovered dozens of bodies. Israel's offensive has killed over 51,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which does not say how many of the dead were civilians or combatants. Israel says it has killed around 20,000 militants, without providing evidence. The war has destroyed vast parts of Gaza and most of its food production capabilities. The war has displaced around 90 percent of the population, with hundreds of thousands of people living in tent camps and bombed-out buildings.
CBC
17-04-2025
- Health
- CBC
Five children among family of 10 killed in Israeli strike in Khan Younis
Israeli strikes on the Gaza Strip overnight into Thursday killed at least 23 people, including a family of 10, local health officials said. The United Nations meanwhile raised alarm over the mounting impact of Israel's seven-week-old blockade preventing all food and other supplies from entering the territory. Israel ended its ceasefire with Hamas last month and renewed its bombardment, killing hundreds of people and seizing large parts of the territory to pressure the militants to accept changes to the agreement. A strike in the southern city of Khan Younis killed five children, four women and a man from the same family, all of whom suffered severe burns, according to Nasser Hospital, which received the bodies. Strikes in northern Gaza killed 13 people, including nine children, according to the Indonesian Hospital. The Israeli military says it tries to avoid harming civilians and blames their deaths on Hamas because it operates in residential areas. There was no immediate comment on the latest strikes. The UN humanitarian office, known as OCHA, said that almost all of Gaza's more than two million people now rely for food on the only one million prepared meals produced daily by charity kitchens supported by aid groups. Other food distribution programs have shut down for lack of supplies, and the UN and other aid groups have been sending their remaining stocks to the charity kitchens. The only other way to get food in Gaza is from markets. But most cannot afford to buy there because of soaring prices and widespread shortages, meaning humanitarian aid is the primary food source for 80 per cent of the population, the World Food Program said in its monthly report for April on Gaza's markets. "The Gaza Strip is now likely facing the worst humanitarian crisis in the 18 months since the escalation of hostilities in October 2023," OCHA said. Water growing scarce amid food shortage Most people in Gaza are now down to one meal a day, said Shaina Low, a spokesperson for the Norwegian Refugee Council. "It's far lower than what is needed," she said. Water is also growing scarce, with Palestinians standing in long lines to fill jerry cans from trucks. Omar Shatat, an official with a local water utility, said people are down to six or seven litres per day, well below the amount the UN estimates is needed to meet basic needs. Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said Wednesday that preventing humanitarian aid is one of the "central pressure tactics" used against Hamas, which Israel accuses of siphoning off aid to maintain its rule. Israel is demanding that Hamas release more hostages at the start of any new ceasefire and ultimately agree to disarm and leave the territory. Katz said that even afterward, Israel will continue to occupy large "security zones" inside Gaza. Hamas is currently holding 59 hostages, 24 of whom are believed to be alive. It says it will only return them in exchange for the release of more Palestinian prisoners, a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and a lasting truce, as called for in the now-defunct ceasefire agreement reached earlier this year. Hani Almadhoun, co-founder of Gaza Soup Kitchen, said his kitchen has food for about three more weeks. "But food is loosely defined. We have pasta and rice but nothing much beyond that. No fresh produce. There is no chicken or beef. The only thing we have is canned meat," he said. He said 15 to 20 per cent of the people who come to his kitchen for food leave empty-handed. WATCH | Sisters flee north Gaza hospital after Israel orders evacuation before strike: 'We were scared,' sisters say after being ordered to evacuate northern Gaza hospital overnight 2 days ago Duration 2:11 Hind, an amputee, and her sister Heba Al-Hourani were among hundreds of wounded patients forced to evacuate Al-Ahli Arab Baptist Hospital overnight on Sunday after Israel warned it would strike the building. Israel alleged it held a Hamas command and control centre, without providing evidence. Hamas denies the allegation. The war began when Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting 251. Most of the hostages have since been released in ceasefire agreements or other deals. Israel's offensive has killed over 51,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which does not say how many of the dead were civilians or combatants. Israel says it has killed around 20,000 militants, without providing evidence. The war has destroyed vast parts of Gaza and most of its food production capabilities. The war has displaced around 90 per cent of the population, with hundreds of thousands of people living in tent camps and bombed-out buildings.
Al-Ahram Weekly
17-04-2025
- General
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Thousands of children in Gaza are malnourished amid Israel's blockade : Aid groups - War on Gaza
Aid groups are raising new alarm over Israel's blockade of the war-ravaged Gaza Strip, where no food or other supplies have been allowed in for more than six weeks. Thousands of children are malnourished, and most people are only eating one meal every other day, the United Nations says. Israel ended a ceasefire last month and renewed its bombardment, killing hundreds of people and seizing large parts of the territory. Israeli strikes overnight into Thursday killed at least 37 people, including a family of 10. Nearly all rely on charity kitchens The U.N. humanitarian office, known as OCHA, said that almost all of Gaza's more than 2 million people now rely on charity kitchens supported by aid groups, which can prepare just 1 million meals a day. Other food distribution programs have shut down for lack of supplies, and the U.N. and other aid groups have been sending their remaining stocks to the charity kitchens. The only other way to get food in Gaza is from markets. But prices are spiralling and shortages are widespread, meaning humanitarian aid is the primary food source for 80% of the population, the World Food Program said in its monthly report for April. 'The Gaza Strip is now likely facing the worst humanitarian crisis in the 18 months since the escalation of hostilities in October 2023,' OCHA said. Most people in Gaza are now down to one meal a day, said Shaina Low, a spokesperson for the Norwegian Refugee Council. 'It's far lower than what is needed,' she said. Water is also growing scarce, with Palestinians standing in long lines to fill jerry cans from trucks. Omar Shatat, an official with a local water utility, said people are down to six or seven liters per day, well below the amount the U.N. estimates is needed to meet basic needs. More hungry children, and they are harder to reach In March, more than 3,600 children were newly admitted for treatment for acute malnutrition, up from around 2,000 the month before, according to OCHA, which said "the rapid deterioration of the nutrition situation is already visible.' At the same time, aid groups' ability to treat malnourished children is hampered by Israel's airstrikes and ground operations, which resumed on March 18. In March, the number of children under 5 that aid workers could supply with nutrient supplements fell 70% from February, down to 22,300 children – a fraction of the 29,000 children they aim to reach. Only 60% of the 173 treatment sites are operating, and demand for the dwindling supplies is rising, OCHA said. "Humanitarians have been forced to watch people suffer and die while carrying the impossible burden of providing relief with depleted supplies, all while facing the same life-threatening conditions themselves,' said Amande Bazerolle, the emergency coordinator in Gaza for Doctors Without Borders. 'This is not a humanitarian failure — it is a political choice, and a deliberate assault on a people's ability to survive, carried out with impunity,' she said in a statement. Hani Almadhoun, co-founder of Gaza Soup Kitchen, said his kitchen has food for about three more weeks. 'But food is loosely defined. We have pasta and rice, but nothing much beyond that. No fresh produce. There is no chicken or beef. The only thing we have is canned meat,' he said. He said 15-20% of the people who come to his kitchen for food leave empty-handed. Israel's war has killed over 51,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. The war has destroyed vast parts of Gaza and most of its food production capabilities. The war has displaced around 90% of the population, with hundreds of thousands of people living in tent camps and bombed-out buildings. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
