Gaza city: The confirmation of famine in Gaza City and the surrounding neighborhood is utterly horrifying and is wholly preventable, UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy said on Friday. Lammy's remarks came in a statement he issued in response to the famine declared in Gaza, as determined by the Famine Review Committee, a team of international independent experts.
According to Kuwait News Agency, the foreign secretary stated that the Israeli government's refusal to allow sufficient aid into Gaza has caused this man-made catastrophe. He described the situation as a moral outrage and emphasized that immediate action must be taken to prevent further deterioration. Lammy urged the Israeli government to allow unhindered delivery of food, medical supplies, fuel, and all types of aid to those in need.
Lammy further asserted that the Israeli government must permit the UN and international NGOs to conduct their life-saving work without obstruction. He stressed the urgency and necessity of delivering aid promptly and without delay to those affected by the famine.
The foreign secretary called for an immediate ceasefire to facilitate aid delivery at the required scale and speed, including halting military operations in Gaza City, which is the epicenter of the famine. The UK reiterated its condemnation of the military action, highlighting the risk it poses to an already dire humanitarian situation and the lives of hostages held by Hamas. Lammy urged the Israeli government to change course and halt its plans.
He concluded by emphasizing that the conflict must end, stating that an immediate and permanent ceasefire is essential to stopping the suffering, securing the release of hostages, increasing aid, and establishing a framework for lasting peace. The Famine Review Committee (FRC) is a team of independent international food security, nutrition, and mortality experts that debate and review available evidence and IPC analysis results to determine whether a Famine classification is warranted.