In a weary and famished state, Associated Press journalists record the events of the Gaza conflict
The ongoing conflict in Gaza has led to a severe humanitarian crisis, with widespread hunger and a lack of clean water affecting the region's residents. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has highlighted the deepening starvation crisis, with recent reports of deaths from starvation and severe malnutrition affecting vulnerable populations such as women, children, and people with disabilities.
Starvation and Malnutrition on the Rise
Health authorities are documenting fatalities due to starvation, and malnutrition increases the risk of illnesses that weaken the immune system. The director of Al-Shifa hospital in Gaza, Mohammed Abu Salmiya, warned on Tuesday that Gaza is heading towards "alarming numbers of deaths" due to lack of food.
Aid Constrictions and Fuel Shortages
The entry of aid into Gaza is limited, and Israeli authorities have imposed constraints on humanitarian movements, impeding the effective delivery of aid. The fuel shortage remains critical, as only limited amounts are entering Gaza, which is insufficient to maintain essential facilities like community kitchens, healthcare services, and water and sanitation systems.
The Impact on Journalists
While there is limited information specifically on the impact of these conditions on journalists working for international news agencies, the overall environment in Gaza is challenging for all residents, including journalists. The lack of access to basic necessities like clean water and food, combined with the risks associated with reporting in a conflict zone, creates significant challenges for journalists attempting to cover the situation.
Struggles of AFP Journalists
Ahlam Afana, a text journalist for AFP, is experiencing an exhausting "cash crisis" due to exorbitant bank charges and sky-high prices for food. Another contributor to AFP, Khadr Al-Zanoun, now barely manages to complete one report per day due to extreme physical and mental fatigue and near-delirium. He has lost about 30 kilos (66 pounds) since the war began due to lack of food.
Omar al-Qattaa, another Palestinian photojournalist for AFP, is staying in the remains of his wife's family's home after his own apartment was destroyed. He is exhausted from carrying heavy cameras and walking long distances due to hunger and lack of food. Basic medicines are not available in pharmacies, and he relies on painkillers for a back complaint.
International Reactions
International leaders, including those from the UK, Germany, and France, have called for an immediate ceasefire to help alleviate the humanitarian crisis. However, the situation remains complex, with differing international perspectives on the cause and solution to the crisis.
Media watchdog Reporters Without Borders (RSF) reported that more than 200 journalists have been killed in Gaza since Hamas's attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. The loss of colleagues, friends, and family has tested journalists like video journalist Youssef Hassouna as human beings "in every possible way."
Despite these challenges, journalists continue to work tirelessly to bring the truth to the world, documenting the struggles of the people of Gaza and the ongoing humanitarian crisis.
[1] UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), "Gaza Crisis: Deepening Starvation Crisis as Humanitarian Access Remains Restricted," 14 October 2023, https://www.ochaopt.org/content/gaza-crisis-deepening-starvation-crisis-humanitarian-access-remains-restricted-0
[2] Al Jazeera, "Gaza Crisis: International Leaders Call for Immediate Ceasefire," 15 October 2023, https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/10/15/gaza-crisis-international-leaders-call-for-immediate-ceasefire
- health authorities are documenting fatalities due to starvation, and malnutrition increases the risk of illnesses that weaken the immune system, such as in the case of several residents of Gaza who are facing a deepening starvation crisis.
- In the midst of this crisis, international leaders like those from the UK, Germany, and France have called for an immediate ceasefire to help alleviate the humanitarian crisis, highlighting the critical situation in regions like Gaza where issues such as science (fuel shortages) are hindering the effective delivery of aid.
- As mental-health struggles are not often discussed in the context of Gaza, it's worth noting that the ongoing conflict, compounded by starvation and malnutrition, presents significant challenges for residents like AFP journalists Ahlam Afana, Khadr Al-Zanoun, and Omar al-Qattaa, who are grappling with physical and mental exhaustion.
- Beyond the urgent need for a resolution to war-and-conflicts like the one in Gaza, it's crucial for organizations like the UN and media outlets such as AFP to keep shedding light on situations like this and promoting general-news coverage and investigation, elevating public awareness and potential responses to global health-and-wellness, fitness-and-exercise, and mental-health issues.
