Struggling Nutrition among News Personalities in Gaza
In the troubled Gaza Strip, more than 230 journalists and media workers have lost their lives since October 2023, according to the Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs at Brown University. The ongoing violence and instability have taken a heavy toll on the region, with the editorial committee of Agence France-Presse warning that without immediate intervention, the last remaining reporters in Gaza may meet a similar fate.
Sara Qudah, the regional director for the Middle East and North Africa at the Committee to Protect Journalists, has expressed concern over the loss of independent reporting from Gaza. Journalists like Abdulrahman Ismail, a young visual journalist in Gaza, have been affected by the hunger crisis, which affects their ability to focus and hold objects.
The hunger experienced by journalists in Gaza is not unique. According to the United Nations, over a hundred Palestinian deaths from malnutrition have been recorded in Gaza over the past year and a half. One in three residents of Gaza is going days without eating, and hundreds more have been killed while trying to get food.
Shrouq Aila, a Palestinian journalist in Gaza, had not eaten for over 24 hours before heading home at around half past six in the evening on Tuesday. She stores water bottles at home for drinking due to limited safe water sources. Like many Palestinians, she faces the risk of diseases due to non-potable water.
Abdulrahman Ismail resorts to drinking salt water and chewing dried herbs to cope with hunger. He had recently spent 48 hours without food and had to buy half a piece of bread for six dollars. The lack of access to food in Gaza has led to the malnutrition of Palestinian journalists, such as Abubaker Abed, who was forced to leave Gaza due to malnutrition and threats to his physical safety.
One of Abubaker Abed's colleagues in Gaza prioritizes finding food for his family over reporting the news. Seth Stern, the director of advocacy of the Freedom of the Press Foundation, commends the courage of journalists in Gaza who continue to report despite the dire circumstances.
Anthony Bellanger, the general secretary of the International Federation of Journalists, has called on the Israeli government to stop weaponizing starvation against the people of Gaza. He urges for immediate action to address the humanitarian crisis in the region and ensure the safety and well-being of journalists and civilians alike.
The Associated Press (AP) is currently working with visual journalists in the Gaza Strip after most members of the international press were banned from entering the area. Despite the challenges, these journalists continue to bring attention to the plight of the people of Gaza, providing a vital service in reporting the truth and advocating for peace.
