Time To Say Goodbye Starvation in Gaza with Jeremy Konyndyk
Jul 30, 2025
In this discussion, Jeremy Konyndyk, President of Refugees International and veteran humanitarian operator, sheds light on the acute famine crisis in Gaza. He explains the intricate challenges of delivering aid amidst conflict and infrastructure destruction. The conversation highlights the vital role of public opinion in influencing humanitarian efforts, while examining U.S. foreign policy's impact on the situation. Listeners gain insight into the urgent need for grassroots advocacy, revealing both the horrors of the crisis and paths to meaningful action.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Famines Develop Like Slow Hurricanes
- Famines develop slowly and their warning signs can be detected well in advance, similar to a slow-moving hurricane forecast.
- Gaza's siege from late 2023 caused progressive deprivation, reducing the population's resilience and pushing it toward famine.
Resilience Means Coping Capacity
- Resilience in famine denotes people's physical health, economic assets, and social coping strategies against food deprivation.
- Gaza's population gradually lost all assets and health, increasing vulnerability to starvation.
Politics Fundamentally Cause Famines
- Famines rarely occur without political causes, often emerging from conflict and deliberate obstruction.
- International law demands warring parties respect civilian welfare and allow aid, but violations cause famine, as seen in Gaza.