People walk past a building destroyed in Israeli strikes in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis, on June 12, 2024. In Gaza, half of the population, or more than 1 million people, is expected to face death and starvation by mid-July, United Nations (UN) Undersecretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Martin Griffiths said on Wednesday. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)
UNITED NATIONS, June 12 (Xinhua) -- United Nations (UN) Undersecretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Martin Griffiths on Wednesday called on Group of Seven (G7) leaders to prevent manmade famine on the eve of the G7 summit in Italy.
"Famine in the 21st century is a preventable scourge. G7 leaders can and must wield their influence to help stop it. Waiting for an official declaration of famine before acting would be a death sentence for hundreds of thousands of people and a moral outrage," said Griffiths in a statement.
Conflict is fueling hunger in too many corners of the world. But nowhere is the choice between inaction and oblivion so clear as in Gaza and Sudan, he said.
In Gaza, half of the population, or more than 1 million people, is expected to face death and starvation by mid-July; in Sudan, at least 5 million people are also teetering on the brink of starvation; in both Gaza and Sudan, intense fighting, unacceptable restrictions and meager funding are preventing aid workers from delivering assistance necessary to prevent mass starvation, he said.
Griffiths asked G7 countries to immediately use their substantial political leverage and financial resources so that aid organizations can reach all people in need.
"But more than anything, the world must stop feeding the war machines that are starving the civilians of Gaza and Sudan. It is time instead to prioritize the diplomacy that will give people back their futures. And tomorrow, the G7 is at the helm," he said. ■
Palestinian children walk through the rubble of buildings destroyed in Israeli strikes in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis, on June 12, 2024. In Gaza, half of the population, or more than 1 million people, is expected to face death and starvation by mid-July, United Nations (UN) Undersecretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Martin Griffiths said on Wednesday. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)
Palestinian children are seen in front of buildings destroyed in Israeli strikes in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis, on June 12, 2024. In Gaza, half of the population, or more than 1 million people, is expected to face death and starvation by mid-July, United Nations (UN) Undersecretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Martin Griffiths said on Wednesday. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)
People are seen in front of buildings destroyed in Israeli strikes in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis, on June 12, 2024. In Gaza, half of the population, or more than 1 million people, is expected to face death and starvation by mid-July, United Nations (UN) Undersecretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Martin Griffiths said on Wednesday. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)
People are seen on a street with buildings destroyed in Israeli strikes in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis, on June 12, 2024. In Gaza, half of the population, or more than 1 million people, is expected to face death and starvation by mid-July, United Nations (UN) Undersecretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Martin Griffiths said on Wednesday. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)
People are seen on a street with buildings destroyed in Israeli strikes in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis, on June 12, 2024. In Gaza, half of the population, or more than 1 million people, is expected to face death and starvation by mid-July, United Nations (UN) Undersecretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Martin Griffiths said on Wednesday. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)
People walk past buildings destroyed in Israeli strikes in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis, on June 12, 2024. In Gaza, half of the population, or more than 1 million people, is expected to face death and starvation by mid-July, United Nations (UN) Undersecretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Martin Griffiths said on Wednesday. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)
People collect items from the rubble of a building destroyed in Israeli strikes in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis, on June 12, 2024. In Gaza, half of the population, or more than 1 million people, is expected to face death and starvation by mid-July, United Nations (UN) Undersecretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Martin Griffiths said on Wednesday. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)
People walk past buildings destroyed in Israeli strikes in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis, on June 12, 2024. In Gaza, half of the population, or more than 1 million people, is expected to face death and starvation by mid-July, United Nations (UN) Undersecretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Martin Griffiths said on Wednesday. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)
A man walks past buildings destroyed in Israeli strikes in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis, on June 12, 2024. In Gaza, half of the population, or more than 1 million people, is expected to face death and starvation by mid-July, United Nations (UN) Undersecretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Martin Griffiths said on Wednesday. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)
