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| Gaza residents: 'My youngest child doesn't know what fruit tastes like' | Gaza residents: 'My youngest child doesn't know what fruit tastes like' |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| A UN-backed body has warned that more than half a million people across Gaza are facing "catastrophic" conditions characterised by "starvation, destitution and death" | |
| Residents of the Gaza Strip have described to the BBC the effects of severe hunger on their bodies, after a UN-backed report confirmed famine in the territory for the first time. | |
| Reem Tawfiq Khader, 41, a mother of five from Gaza City, said: "The declaration of famine came too late, but it is still important. | Reem Tawfiq Khader, 41, a mother of five from Gaza City, said: "The declaration of famine came too late, but it is still important. |
| "We haven't eaten any protein for five months. My youngest child is four years old - he doesn't know what fruit and vegetables look or taste like." | |
| The UN says Israel has heavily restricted the amount of aid entering Gaza, which Israel denies. | The UN says Israel has heavily restricted the amount of aid entering Gaza, which Israel denies. |
| Israel also denies there is starvation in the territory, in direct contradiction to what more than 100 humanitarian groups, witnesses on the ground, and multiple UN bodies say. | Israel also denies there is starvation in the territory, in direct contradiction to what more than 100 humanitarian groups, witnesses on the ground, and multiple UN bodies say. |
| On Friday, the UN-backed Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) said there was an "entirely man-made" famine in Gaza City and its surrounding areas. | On Friday, the UN-backed Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) said there was an "entirely man-made" famine in Gaza City and its surrounding areas. |
| It warned that more than half a million people across the Gaza Strip were facing "catastrophic" conditions characterised by "starvation, destitution and death". | It warned that more than half a million people across the Gaza Strip were facing "catastrophic" conditions characterised by "starvation, destitution and death". |
| Rajaa Talbeh, 47, a mother of six, said she had lost 25kg (55lbs) in weight. She fled her home in Gaza City's Zeitoun district a month ago and now lives in a makeshift tent near the beach. | Rajaa Talbeh, 47, a mother of six, said she had lost 25kg (55lbs) in weight. She fled her home in Gaza City's Zeitoun district a month ago and now lives in a makeshift tent near the beach. |
| She suffers from gluten intolerance and said she could no longer find food she could eat. | She suffers from gluten intolerance and said she could no longer find food she could eat. |
| Hundreds of Palestinians have been killed while at or near aid distribution sites run by the Israel and US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) | Hundreds of Palestinians have been killed while at or near aid distribution sites run by the Israel and US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) |
| "Before the war, a charity used to help me get gluten-free products, which I could never afford myself," she said. | "Before the war, a charity used to help me get gluten-free products, which I could never afford myself," she said. |
| "Since the war began, I can't find what I need in the market, and even when I do, I can't afford it. Isn't it enough to face daily bombardment, displacement and living in a tent that shields us neither from the heat of summer nor the cold of winter - and now famine on top of it?" | "Since the war began, I can't find what I need in the market, and even when I do, I can't afford it. Isn't it enough to face daily bombardment, displacement and living in a tent that shields us neither from the heat of summer nor the cold of winter - and now famine on top of it?" |
| Rida Hijeh, 29, said her five-year-old daughter Lamia's weight had dropped from 19kg (42lbs) to 10.5kg (23lbs). | Rida Hijeh, 29, said her five-year-old daughter Lamia's weight had dropped from 19kg (42lbs) to 10.5kg (23lbs). |
| She said Lamia was healthy before the war began and had no prior illnesses. | She said Lamia was healthy before the war began and had no prior illnesses. |
| "This all happened only because of the famine," she said. | "This all happened only because of the famine," she said. |
| "There is simply nothing for the child to eat. There are no vegetables, no fruits." | "There is simply nothing for the child to eat. There are no vegetables, no fruits." |
| Now, Lamia suffers from swelling in her legs, thinning hair, and nerve problems, she said. | Now, Lamia suffers from swelling in her legs, thinning hair, and nerve problems, she said. |
| "She cannot walk. I went to many clinics, doctors, and hospitals. They all told me my daughter is suffering from malnutrition. But none of them gave me anything, not treatment, not any support." | "She cannot walk. I went to many clinics, doctors, and hospitals. They all told me my daughter is suffering from malnutrition. But none of them gave me anything, not treatment, not any support." |
| The Israeli military has facilitated aid drops into Gaza - but aid groups have said these are a "grotesque distraction" and that Israel should allow more aid in through the normal routes | The Israeli military has facilitated aid drops into Gaza - but aid groups have said these are a "grotesque distraction" and that Israel should allow more aid in through the normal routes |
| Mandy Blackman, a British nurse working for the charity UK-Med in Gaza, said 70% of mothers attending their maternal health, ante-natal and post-natal clinics had clinical malnutrition. | Mandy Blackman, a British nurse working for the charity UK-Med in Gaza, said 70% of mothers attending their maternal health, ante-natal and post-natal clinics had clinical malnutrition. |
| "Babies are delivered smaller and more vulnerable as a result," she said. | "Babies are delivered smaller and more vulnerable as a result," she said. |
| More than 62,000 people have been killed in Gaza since Israel began its military campaign, in response to the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on 7 October 2023, in which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 others were taken hostage. | More than 62,000 people have been killed in Gaza since Israel began its military campaign, in response to the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on 7 October 2023, in which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 others were taken hostage. |
| Since the start of the war, at least 271 people, including 112 children, have died of "famine and malnutrition", according to Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry. | Since the start of the war, at least 271 people, including 112 children, have died of "famine and malnutrition", according to Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry. |
| Another woman, Aseel, who lives in Gaza City, said: "Five months ago, I weighed 56kg (123lbs). Today, I weigh only 46kg (101lbs)." | Another woman, Aseel, who lives in Gaza City, said: "Five months ago, I weighed 56kg (123lbs). Today, I weigh only 46kg (101lbs)." |
| She said she hadn't eaten a single piece of fruit or meat in months and had spent nearly her entire savings on basic ingredients to survive. | She said she hadn't eaten a single piece of fruit or meat in months and had spent nearly her entire savings on basic ingredients to survive. |
| Aseel's sister-in-law - who she lives with - has a one-month-old baby. | Aseel's sister-in-law - who she lives with - has a one-month-old baby. |
| "She's been desperately searching for baby formula at a reasonable price," Aseel said. | "She's been desperately searching for baby formula at a reasonable price," Aseel said. |
| She said that when they can find it, it costs as much as 180 shekels (£39) per can. | She said that when they can find it, it costs as much as 180 shekels (£39) per can. |
| "I have no food stockpile, not even enough to last a week or two," she added. | "I have no food stockpile, not even enough to last a week or two," she added. |
| "Like thousands of people, we live day by day." | "Like thousands of people, we live day by day." |
| Additional reporting by Freya Scott-Turner | Additional reporting by Freya Scott-Turner |