In a letter to international groups, Mohammad Reza Zafargundy expressed deep regret over the devastating circumstances of Gaza and called for humanitarian and coordinated intervention to stop the ongoing disasters in occupied Palestinian territory.
He stressed that the scale and purpose of destruction given to civilians in Gaza, especially children and women, exceeds the threshold of a humanitarian crisis.
The Minister mentioned the collapse of the Gaza Strip’s public health system, describing it as a deliberate destruction of the nature of human life.
He urged the international community to respond promptly and effectively to the collective punishment, ethnic cleansing and genocide taking place in besieged Palestinian territory.
Zafargundy pointed to the extremely difficult and painful conditions facing civilians in the enclave, saying many infants are nearly dying in their mother’s arms due to severe malnutrition and dehydration. Statistics show that over 32% of children under the age of 2 suffer from acute malnutrition, he added.
The health minister also pointed out that hunger is being used as a weapon of war, adding that while families are forced to survive by eating grass, animal feed and other non-foods, humanitarian aid has been intentionally blocked or destroyed by Israeli forces.
MA/IRN