U.N. food agency boss spotlights famine in Gaza

The director says mothers and children are starving and presses Netanyahu.

- By Sam MEDNICK AND Samy Maapy

KHAMES ALREFI Anadolu PALESTINIANS struggle to access food distribution on Thursday in Gaza City.

The head of the U.N. food agency said Thursday that it was “very evident” during her visit to Gaza this week that there isn’t enough food in the Palestinian territory and that she spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about the urgent need for more aid.

The world’s leading authority on food crises said last week the Gaza Strip’s largest city is gripped by famine, and that it was likely to spread across the territory without a ceasefire and an end to restrictions on humanitarian aid.

Cindy McCain, the World Food Program's executive director, told the Associated Press that starvation was underway in Gaza.

“I personally met mothers and children who were starving in Gaza,” she said. “It is real and it is happening now.”

Netanyahu, she said, was “obviously very concerned that people aren't getting enough food.” In the past, he has denied that there is famine in Gaza and said the claims about starvation are a propaganda campaign launched by Hamas.

“We agreed that we must immediately redouble our efforts to get more humanitarian aid in. Access and security for our convoys is critical,” McCain said.

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