US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Tuesday (19) that the entire population of Gaza is “in serious levels of acute food insecurity”.
“According to the most respected measures of these things, 100% of the population of Gaza is in serious levels of acute food insecurity. This is the first time that an entire population has been classified in this way,” Blinken said during a press conference in the Philippines.
Blinken called the war a “horrible humanitarian situation for women, for children, for men” and implored Israel to protect civilians.
“It is absolutely Israel's responsibility, as it acts to defend itself from October 7th from this happening again, to make protecting civilians – those caught in harm's way – a priority, and to provide aid to those in desperate need of humanitarian assistance. ”
Blinken said he called on Israel to have a plan for Gaza after the war, which he said he hoped would end soon. The plan, he said, would have to be “consistent with Israel’s needs to defend itself and ensure that October 7th never happens again.”
According to a UN-backed report, all 2.2 million people in the enclave do not have enough food to eat, with half the population on the brink of starvation and famine expected to reach northern Gaza “at any time between mid- March and May 2024.”
Blinken will visit Saudi Arabia and Egypt to meet with government leaders this week and discuss efforts to reach an “immediate ceasefire agreement” between Israel and Hamas.
Source: CNN Brasil
Bruce Belcher is a seasoned author with over 5 years of experience in world news. He writes for online news websites and provides in-depth analysis on the world stock market. Bruce is known for his insightful perspectives and commitment to keeping the public informed.
