The Children Starve First

[Municipal]

I wanted to open a space to reflect on something that’s been haunting me.

I've noticed in reports from Gaza that children are dying of starvation at shocking rates — even more than adults. At first I wondered how this could be, given that children need less food than adults. But I’ve since learned that children are actually the first to die in famine situations.

Here’s why:

• Children have smaller bodies but higher nutritional needs per kilogram, especially during growth spurts. They need regular, balanced intake to maintain development.
• Malnutrition hits them faster — their energy stores are smaller, and their bodies have less ability to adapt to a lack of nutrients.
• Their immune systems weaken rapidly, making them far more likely to die from diseases that an adult body might fight off.
• Infants and toddlers can’t chew tougher emergency rations or go without water as long, and breastfed babies suffer if their mothers are dehydrated or malnourished.
• The UN says that in every famine, the first to die are the smallest and weakest.

The stories of babies dying in their mothers’ arms — not from bombs or bullets but from hunger — are unbearable. I can’t stop thinking about the terror and anguish these parents must feel. How helpless it must be to watch your child fade away slowly, knowing you have nothing left to give them.

I know we talk about current events, about war, politics, sides — but surely, we can unite around this: no child should starve to death in their mother’s arms.

not just in this conflict but in many others and indeed when crops fail often what happens is food aid is not given to children but siphoned off to feed the army or fighting men or it is only given to people who support the "correct" side, or when it is dropped the weak have no chance of getting to it so those slightly stronger get it as arrive first. or any food is given to the worker in the family so they can carry on trying to earn money as if not strong enough to work the whole family not just one child will be in even worse straits. You have to be fit and strong to push to the front of the queue by the Aid lorry

I just think the World needs to get to a place where Oct 7 is resoundingly condemned as a horrific terror attack and where true antisemitism is completely rejected but where the answer doesn’t include starving children to death and bombing civilians into oblivion.

That’s an argument for sending lots and lots and lots of food then, isn’t it?

We already reached that place a long time ago. Now we just need the answer bit about not starving children.

Absolutely.

@Snickersnack1 I am not saying food aid shouldn't happen it should; but explaining why food aid frequently does not reach the intended recipients. Also when in dire circumstances if a child appears to be dying the decision maybe taken not to give them the food but the other children who are stronger and will have a better chance. Just like when multiple very serious injuries in th hospitals you need to concentrate on those that stand a decent chance of survival rather than those who probably won't make it anyway, It is truly awful, that such decisions have to be made

As everyone said they would never allow to happen ever again 😔

There are medical reports showing that Palestinians fighting against Israel’s army died with empty stomachs. Yahya Sinwar, a Hamas soldier, had not eaten in about 3 days from what I remember reading.

regardless, the problem is that Israel is blocking aid. A war crime.

They would probably shoot the planes down. They shot warning shots at diplomats from 30 or so countries today.

It’s the total lack of pity towards women, children, the elderly, the disabled and all
the men who are innocent of the atrocities committed against Israel. What they are doing is drawing parallel to the nazi party and their wish to destroy a race of people at any cost. I can’t believe they are behaving this way when they themselves have been treated similarly. Surely they’d want to distance themselves from such abhorrent behaviour.

Is this a joke?

Shame on you!

Reported. This is just absolutely vile.

That's a terribly upsetting thing to read. Are you serious or just trolling?

I am utterly horrified about what’s happening and I pray that those 14,000 babies at risk get the food they need within the next day or so.

For those asking why Israel is blocking aid, their stated goal is not to starve the population but to dismantle Hamas operations by cutting off their income stream.

They believe/say they believe that any aid entering Gaza is commandeered by Hamas who either use it for fighters or sell it at inflated prices to civilians and this is the income stream for their operations, goes towards paying fighters and operatives etc. They say that aid and Hamas control over its distribution is what is keeping Hamas from collapsing.

I am not saying the above is actually true but I had missed this explanation until quite recently despite reading a lot of news.

I would hate the state of Israel too if it was the reason my mother, father, brothers, sisters, uncles, aunties, teachers, friends and neighbours were being blown up into pieces in front of my face.

The footage of orphaned children collapsing over their dead parents (often in horrific mutilated conditions) is clear: if they wanted to get rid of Hamas, that makes no sense as all they are doing is creating a nation of broken children who will want justice for what they went through.

I dont care what the war is, children should always be given a safe route out of war. No child caused a war.

I agree with you that it’s awful such decisions have to be made. I’m not sure what point you’re making though? This is an entirely avoidable situation with an extremely simple answer that would prevent such awful choices: stop the deliberate starvation and send in enough food for everyone. Send in so much that there is surplus! No food ‘triage’ necessary then.

I think anyone with basic reading comprehension can deduce that these are just excuses coming from the Israeli govt. They are now committing a war crime. They are purposely starving and killing Palestinians.

also, what about the hostages???!

The hostages are also starving to death, aren’t they?

Reported @BePeachShaker 's vile post.

What a disgusting thing to think, never mind commit to writing.

Yes, it is horrendous.
I can't watch anymore. 😢

I have seen posts from people who believe that the news of starving people are lies.

Israel opened fire on diplomatic visitors today too. No rules apply.

Wasn’t Netenyahu about to be arrested for massive fraud just before this happened?

In a few years, this time in history will be studied.

The televised genocide will be studied and researched. Social media posts will be shared. Books will be written. Videos will be watched.

The world will see that we all witnessed a genocide of the Palestinian people under the guide of ‘but Hamas’. By then it will be too late. In fact it is already too late because tens of thousands of Palestinian men, women and children have been killed.

at this point, anyone giving justifications should really rethink their moral compass.