Harsh reality of Israel's deadly blockade on Strip

DESPERATE parents in Gaza have told harrowing stories of their fight for survival under Israel's brutal blockade.

- BY CHRIS HUGHES

After years of bombing and two months without any supplies being allowed into the enclave, death is a constant presence.

Samah, a mum-of-four, has been forced to give her children animal feed after her home was bombed.

She says: "Our life is not suitable for a human. The area where we live is rubble. There is no water. God only knows how we're living there."

Her daughters - seven, six and two — have been traumatised by sights no child should see.

At least 65,000 children in Gaza are already suffering from severe malnutrition, say local health officials, and many more are at risk.

Enough food to feed a million people for four months is parked at the borders, ready to be brought into Gaza. But no food, clean water or medicine is allowed in.

Testimony from within the Strip, secured by Save The Children, sheds light on the desperate situation.

Children are begging for food and are at risk of being crushed by starving crowds at local-run distribution stations.

When Samah became one of 50,000 women in Gaza to give birth since the start of the conflict, her newborn was at risk of malnutrition.