EXCLUSIVE. “No one in Gaza has enough to eat”: Yahya Sarraj, the city's mayor, calls for help in Midi Libre

Yahya Sarraj: “Humanitarian aid is received, but not in sufficient quantity.” Gaza Municipality

Discover an extract from the exclusive interview given by the mayor of Gaza, Yaha Sarraj, to Midi Libre on the humanitarian situation. 

How would you describe the humanitarian situation in Gaza City today and in the rest of the enclave ?

We are facing a critical situation which affects the living conditions of the populations in all the cities of the Gaza Strip. This can be summed up in four main issues: the supply of drinking water for household consumption and domestic use, as well as for the functioning of the city (25% of water needs have been implemented suspense). Most of our wells have been destroyed, and we don't have enough electricity to function properly. There is also the problem of wastewater management and treatment; Hundreds of tons of gray water are dumped in cities and pollute the sea because they cannot be contained. Waste collection is also a problem. Traffic on the roads and through the towns that have been destroyed is extremely complicated. Add to that the lack of food and medicine.

Is humanitarian aid reaching the population and is it sufficient ?

Humanitarian aid is received, but not in sufficient quantity. It’s also very random and not very organized. We are not allowed to organize the distribution properly, most of the volunteers who participate in the convoys are killed. Since food is not provided in sufficient quantity, it is particularly difficult to feed the population, everyone is hungry, children are losing weight. The animals have been killed, the fishermen are no longer allowed to go to sea. They do so at the risk of their lives. This is not enough in terms of quantity and quality. People don't realize that air shipping causes more harm than it helps: packages can be sent unsafely and sometimes land on building roofs, destroying electrical systems, on car roofs or, worse yet, on people. It’s terrible to do it this way, especially in such a crowded space with so many people.

Can we today talk about famine in Gaza ?

Yes, we cannot ignore the famine. No one in Gaza has enough to eat.

Discover the entire interview by clicking here.