EU's Borrell says humanitarian crisis, starvation in Gaza 'manmade'

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: News Websites
12 Mar 2024 23:12
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In a statement at the UN HQs, Josep Borrell indirectly accused "Israel" of shutting humanitarian corridors and imposing famine on Gaza.

Palestinians line up for food in Rafah, Gaza Strip, on Tuesday, March 12, 2024. (AP)

The European Union's foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, described the humanitarian crisis in Gaza as "manmade", and accused "Israel" of using starvation and hunger as a "war arm".

In a statement at UN headquarters in New York, Borrell said, "This humanitarian crisis... is not a natural disaster, is not a flood, is not an earthquake, it is manmade."

This comes as "Israel" shuts aid corridors and imposes impossible living conditions on Palestinians in the Strip. Relief organizations have been warning of famine, while the international community airdropped aid on Gaza's shore.

In this context, Borrell recalled that airdropping is the utilized method because there is no other way of sending aid to Gaza, as "Israel" obstructed them.

"Starvation is being used as a war arm," he said, adding that "when we condemn this happening in Ukraine, we have to use the same words of what's happening in Gaza."

Aid airdrops to Gaza, more of a show than genuine humanitarian act

The Government Media Office in Gaza called for the immediate and urgent opening of land crossings to allow thousands of tons of aid to enter, to prevent the deepening famine crisis in the Gaza Strip, especially in the north.

Commenting on the casualties resulting from the random air drops of aid, which led to the killing of 5 people and injury of several others, the office reiterated that such operations are not effective and are not the optimal way to deliver aid.

Five Palestinians, including two children, were killed last week due to an aid airdrop mishap, where at least one parachute malfunctioned, causing a package to fall on them. The tragic incident occurred in the al-Shati refugee camp in northern Gaza at approximately 11:30 am local time.

The Government Media Office reported that nearly 2.4 million people in the Gaza Strip are suffering significantly from severe shortages of food, water, medicine, and shelter.

The Office confirmed that 20 Palestinian citizens have died due to famine, and the number is likely to increase daily due to hunger, malnutrition, and drought, posing a threat to the lives of over 700,000 people experiencing severe hunger.

The office reiterated its previous statement regarding the airdrop of aid, emphasizing that such operations are more of a display and publicity stunt than a humane, service-oriented approach. It warned that these actions pose a deadly threat to the citizens in the Gaza Strip.