Over 100 aid and rights groups call for urgent ceasefire and unrestricted humanitarian access in Gaza as hunger and starvation spread rapidly.
Oslo: More than 100 aid and human rights organisations have issued an urgent appeal to governments worldwide, warning of mass starvation in Gaza and calling for immediate, decisive action. In a joint statement signed by 111 groups—including Mercy Corps, Refugees International, and the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC)—they demanded an immediate and permanent ceasefire, along with the removal of all restrictions on humanitarian aid.
The statement described a catastrophic situation, where vital supplies including food, water, and medical aid are stranded outside Gaza, unable to reach those in desperate need. Aid workers themselves are reportedly starving and risking their lives to access food. “With supplies totally depleted, humanitarian organisations are witnessing their own staff waste away,” the statement noted.
The organisations placed direct blame on Israel’s ongoing siege, saying its restrictions and bureaucratic barriers have led to “chaos, starvation, and death.” They called for all land crossings to be opened and insisted on restoring a UN-led, civilian-managed humanitarian response rather than military-controlled aid distribution.
A key demand was for governments to enforce concrete measures, including halting weapons transfers, to pressure Israel into lifting the blockade and ensuring unimpeded access for aid agencies. The statement emphasised that without such steps, the humanitarian crisis will deepen further.
Gaza’s food supplies have dwindled since March when Israel cut off all provisions to the enclave. The Norwegian Refugee Council confirmed on Tuesday that its aid stocks in Gaza were fully exhausted, and many of its staff are now experiencing hunger themselves. The NRC accused Israel of paralysing its operations.
As the Gaza hunger crisis worsens, the global coalition of NGOs is urging swift international intervention to prevent further loss of life and restore basic human dignity to those trapped by the siege.
