Brian Lehrer: A Daily Politics Podcast Gaza Food and Medicine Relief Leaders Describe Conditions
Jul 29, 2025
Avril Benoît, the Executive Director of Doctors Without Borders in the U.S., shares harrowing insights into the medical crises in Gaza. She highlights the alarming malnutrition rates among children and pregnant women, stressing the urgent need for international aid. Benoît details the challenges faced by aid workers as they navigate chaotic food distribution efforts, advocating for safer methods. The conversation underscores the critical impact of ongoing conflict on access to basic necessities, calling for immediate humanitarian intervention.
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Gaza's Nutritional Crisis
- Gaza is reaching a "point of no return" where ongoing conflict has caused severe food insecurity and malnutrition.
- Children missing basic nutrition face irreparable harm, making immediate nutrition and clean water vital.
Malnutrition Among Gaza's Vulnerable
- Doctors Without Borders screened patients and found 25% of children and pregnant or breastfeeding women were malnourished.
- Their findings demonstrate severe acute malnutrition in vulnerable groups in Gaza.
Aid Workers Facing Hunger
- Many Doctors Without Borders staff in Gaza are eating only one meal every other day and fainting from weakness.
- Staff continue to work despite severe malnutrition affecting their ability to help patients.