Waiting would be ‘death sentence’ for millions on the brink of starvation: Relief director
“The war is pushing millions of people to the brink of starvation. Only technology can prevent the declared famine, because people are already starving to death”, Mr. Griffiths said.
“Waiting for an official declaration of famine before taking action would be a death sentence for hundreds of thousands of people and a moral outrage,” he added.
As the G7’s major economies prepare to meet on Thursday, Mr Griffiths is calling on leaders in the most developed countries to immediately use their political leverage and financial resources to support the institutions. aid organizations in an effort to reach all those in need.
G7 includes Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, UK and US. The UN humanitarian chief said it should use its influence to prevent such a ‘preventable disaster’ from taking the lives of innocent civilians.
‘Choice between inaction and oblivion’
In the latest Hunger Hotspots reportFood and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Food Program (WFP) is warning that acute food insecurity will worsen between June and October 2024 in 18 hunger hotspots.
While urgent attention is needed in several hotspots where famine is looming – including Haiti, Mali and South Sudan – immediate action is especially important in war-torn Gaza and Sudan .
“Nowhere is the choice between inaction and oblivion more clear than in Gaza and Sudan”, Mr. Griffiths said.
Half the population of Gaza, almost a million people, expected to face death and famine by mid-Julyaccording to the United Nations relief director.
Meanwhile, in Sudan, at least 5 million people are on the brink of starvation. Communities in more than 40 hunger hotspots are at high risk of famine in the next month, including the war-torn regions of Aj Jazirah, Darfur, Khartoum and Kordofan.
In both Gaza and Sudan, violence, unacceptable restrictions and insufficient funding are preventing aid workers from providing essential lifesaving assistance.
“This has to change – we cannot afford to lose even one minute,” Mr Griffiths said.
The role of G7
Although humanitarian aid will help fight widespread hunger, it is not the optimal solution to the problem. According to Mr. Griffiths, that depends on the G7’s willingness to bring their political influence and financial resources to bear.
However, above all, “The world must stop supplying food to the war machines that are starving civilians in Gaza and Sudan”, Mr. Griffiths said.
“Instead, it is time to prioritize diplomacy to deliver a future for everyone – and tomorrow, the G7 will take the helm,” he added.
