KERA's Think Why are Gazans starving?
Aug 6, 2025
Ciarán Donnelly, SVP for International Programs with the International Rescue Committee, sheds light on the dire starvation crisis in Gaza. He reveals the alarming state of food insecurity, especially among children, and discusses the overwhelming challenges faced by aid organizations amidst ongoing conflict. Insights into the complexities of refeeding malnourished children and the long-term health implications paint a stark picture. Donnelly emphasizes the urgent need for a ceasefire to deliver effective humanitarian aid and support.
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Displacement Destroys Local Food Systems
- Gaza's dense, damaged infrastructure forces displaced families into overcrowded, unsanitary shelters.
- That collapse of markets and services destroys local food access and raises acute hunger.
Aid Workers Are Also Going Hungry
- IRC local staff in Gaza report going several days without enough food while prioritizing feeding their children.
- That weakens aid capacity and forces IRC to divert limited supplies to staff.
All Three Food Sources Severed
- Before the war Gazans relied on local production, commercial markets, and humanitarian aid.
- Ciarán Donnelly says war and restrictions have strangled all three, making food unaffordable or unavailable.