We must save Gaza from starvation

No peace can be founded upon starvation. We are seeing this tragedy in Gaza as food supplies have run out for civilians because of the ongoing Israel-Hamas war. The international community must urgently work toward another ceasefire to end the blockade of humanitarian aid into Gaza.

The U.N. World Food Program (WFP) is warning nearly half a million people in Gaza face "catastrophic hunger.” Famine is the gathering storm in Gaza.

"Families in Gaza are starving while the food they need is sitting at the border. We can’t get it to them because of the renewed conflict and the total ban on humanitarian aid imposed in early March,” said the WFP Executive Director Cindy McCain.

Children are facing severe malnutrition throughout Gaza. They are starving to death as food cannot reach them. The world cannot ignore the coming famine in Gaza.

“The risk of famine does not arrive suddenly. It unfolds in places where access to food is blocked, where health systems are decimated, and where children are left without the bare minimum to survive. Hunger and acute malnutrition are a daily reality for children across the Gaza Strip,” said UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell. “We have repeatedly warned of this trajectory and call again on all parties to prevent a catastrophe.”

A new ceasefire would allow humanitarian aid to be delivered. All hostages must be released.

Food though is a vital ingredient of any peace plan. You cannot allow the enemy of hunger to gain strength during a war. Hunger threatens more lives and causes more chaos both short and long term.

Sadly U.S. humanitarian aid also has been slowed by the Trump budget cuts and closure of USAID. Congress must work to restore humanitarian aid and increase funding so it can provide more assistance.

The U.S. Food for Peace Program, which was started by President Dwight Eisenhower, can play a critical role in any Middle East peace plan. Congress must save Food for Peace from the budget cuts.

Food for Peace funds lifesaving aid to severely malnourished children, so we certainly need to see a lot more of this given the dire situation in Gaza.

Oxfam’s Food Security and Livelihoods Coordinator, Mahmoud Alsaqqa said “Oxfam staff and partners are witnessing scenes that defy belief: families wasting away from hunger, malnourished children too weak to cry, and entire communities surviving without food or clean water."

“We know what hunger feels like — we’ve tasted death. Our children are just waiting their turn to die” a 25 year old mother in Gaza told Save the Children.

Food is a source of hope and stability, something the Middle East needs a lot more of. There is extreme hunger in Gaza and other war zones of the Middle East. Food is desperately needed throughout the impoverished region. President Eisenhower believed we should put out hearts and minds into the Food for Peace plan. Our leaders need to start doing this today to save lives and win the peace.

The world cannot let famine overcome Gaza. We must encourage a ceasefire to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza. It’s the best hope to start peace.

William Lambers is an author who partnered with the U.N. World Food Program on the book “Ending World Hunger.”