Saturday, March 29, 2025
The United Nations has issued a dire warning: 14,000 babies in Gaza could die from starvation within the next 48 hours unless immediate aid reaches the region. After 11 weeks of a near-total blockade, only five trucks carrying baby food and supplies entered Gaza on Monday—far too little, says the UN.
Speaking to BBC Radio 4, UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher described the situation as catastrophic. He said the few trucks that arrived on Monday were just a “drop in the ocean.” Most of the aid has not yet reached the malnourished communities it is meant for.
“There are 14,000 babies that will die in the next 48 hours unless we can reach them,” Fletcher said. “We run all sorts of risks trying to get baby food to mothers who can no longer feed their children.”
On Monday, leaders from the UK, France, and Canada condemned Israel’s actions in Gaza. In a joint statement, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, and Canadian PM Mark Carney criticized Israel’s continued blockade. They also denounced statements from Israeli ministers threatening the mass displacement of Palestinians.
Fletcher welcomed the statement, calling it a “robust and long-overdue stance” by key Israeli allies. He emphasized that the UN is ready to deliver 100 more aid trucks, primarily carrying baby formula and nutrition packets, if access is granted.
Fletcher explained that UN field teams are still working in hospitals, clinics, and schools across Gaza. Despite losing many staff members during the conflict, he said the remaining teams continue to assess needs in real time. Their data, he said, confirms the scale of the hunger crisis among infants.
“We still have people on the ground. They’re in the medical centres, in schools—doing assessments,” he said.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu slightly relaxed the blockade on Sunday night. He said the decision was necessary to avoid a “starvation crisis” and maintain diplomatic relations with allies. However, the level of aid allowed remains minimal.
The humanitarian situation in Gaza remains critical. With only hours left to act, the UN has called for full access to deliver emergency supplies, especially for vulnerable infants and mothers.
