Report on the Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza and its Conflict with Sustainable Development Goals

The escalating humanitarian crisis in Gaza presents a severe challenge to the international community’s commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Reports from aid organizations indicate a catastrophic decline in living conditions, directly undermining progress on key goals related to hunger, health, gender equality, and peace.

Violations of SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) and SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being)

The situation in Gaza constitutes a direct contravention of SDG 2, which aims to end hunger, achieve food security, and improve nutrition, and SDG 3, which seeks to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.

Key Indicators of Malnutrition and Food Insecurity

• Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) reports that rates of severe malnutrition among children under five have tripled in two weeks.
• The number of individuals requiring malnutrition care at MSF’s Gaza City clinic has quadrupled since May.
• The World Food Programme (WFP) states that nearly one-third of Gaza’s population has gone days without eating.
• According to the WFP, 90,000 women and children are in urgent need of malnutrition treatment.

Impact on Health and Mortality

The failure to achieve SDG 2 has led to a critical health crisis, directly impacting SDG 3 targets.

1. Increased Mortality: Health authorities report that at least 122 people have died from starvation.
2. Maternal and Child Health Crisis: Obstetricians report a significant increase in miscarriages. Babies carried to term are often underweight, born prematurely, or with disfigurements.
3. Healthcare System Collapse: Medical professionals lack necessary supplies, resorting to unsanitary equipment and expired medications, severely compromising patient care and safety.

Setbacks for SDG 5 (Gender Equality) and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions)

The crisis disproportionately affects vulnerable populations, undermining SDG 5 (Gender Equality), while the ongoing conflict and aid restrictions are a failure of SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions).

Disproportionate Impact on Women

The crisis has a severe and specific impact on women, setting back progress on SDG 5.

• A quarter of all pregnant or breastfeeding women screened by MSF were found to be malnourished.
• An obstetrician-gynaecologist estimated that 50% of the pregnant women he sees daily are suffering from malnutrition.
• Pregnant women report extreme exhaustion and an inability to find suitable food, leading to severe health complications for both mother and child.

Failure of Peace and Justice Mechanisms

The situation reflects a breakdown in the principles of SDG 16, which calls for peaceful and inclusive societies and accountable institutions.

• Obstruction of Aid: Over 100 aid groups and MSF accuse Israel of implementing a blockade and a “policy of starvation,” which Israel denies. The UN reports being unable to use its distribution points due to restrictions.
• International Condemnation: The UN Secretary-General has labeled the situation a “moral crisis.” The leaders of the UK, France, and Germany have called for an end to the “humanitarian catastrophe” and an immediate ceasefire.
• Collapse of Negotiations: Ceasefire negotiations have reportedly collapsed, indicating a failure of diplomatic efforts to achieve a peaceful resolution.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 2: Zero Hunger

  The article’s central theme is the severe hunger crisis and mass starvation in Gaza. It explicitly details the lack of food, the resulting malnutrition, and deaths from starvation, which directly relates to the goal of ending hunger and ensuring food security.

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

  The text describes a dire health situation as a direct consequence of the hunger crisis and conflict. It highlights the impact on vulnerable populations like children and pregnant women, the lack of medical supplies, and the inability of the healthcare system to cope, all of which are central to SDG 3.

• SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

  The root causes of the humanitarian crisis, as described in the article, are the ongoing conflict, the blockade of aid, and the collapse of ceasefire negotiations. These issues of violence, lack of access to aid, and institutional failure to protect civilians are directly addressed by SDG 16.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. SDG 2: Zero Hunger

   • Target 2.1: End hunger and ensure access to safe, nutritious and sufficient food

     The article highlights a complete failure to meet this target. It states that “nearly a third of people in Gaza were not eating for days” and that the “hunger crisis had reached ‘new and astonishing levels of desperation’.” The blockade is described as preventing a “steady daily flow of aid trucks to save what remains of the lives of besieged, starving civilians.”

   • Target 2.2: End all forms of malnutrition

     This target is directly relevant as the article reports that “Rates of severe malnutrition among children aged under five… have tripled in the last two weeks.” It also notes that “a quarter of all young children and pregnant or breastfeeding women it screened at its clinics last week were malnourished,” and an obstetrician-gynaecologist estimated that “50% of the hundreds of pregnant women he saw each day were suffering from malnutrition.”

2. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

   • Target 3.1: Reduce global maternal mortality

     The article implies a severe risk to maternal health. An obstetrician-gynaecologist states that “Miscarriages had increased significantly among the patients he saw as mothers struggled to find food to feed themselves.” The extreme malnutrition among pregnant women, with one saying she feels “on the verge of death,” points to a high risk of maternal mortality.

   • Target 3.2: End preventable deaths of newborns and children under 5

     The article provides direct evidence of the failure to meet this target. It mentions that “at least 122 people have died from starvation,” with children being among the most vulnerable. Furthermore, it states that babies “were significantly underweight and were increasingly born prematurely or with disfigurements,” conditions that drastically increase the risk of neonatal and infant death.

   • Target 3.8: Achieve universal health coverage and access to quality essential healthcare services and medicines

     The healthcare system is described as collapsing. A doctor reports he “lacked many of the medical supplies necessary to treat the malnourished women” and that he and other doctors “were forced to use unsanitary medical gloves and prescribe expired medication to patients.” This shows a complete lack of access to quality essential healthcare.

3. SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

   • Target 16.1: Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates

     The article describes deaths resulting directly from the conflict and its consequences. It mentions that “more than 1,000 people have been killed while trying to get food” and that the “deliberate use of starvation as a weapon” is leading to deaths. The entire situation is a result of the failure to end violence and protect civilians.

   • Target 16.A: Strengthen institutions to prevent violence

     The article points to a failure of institutional mechanisms at all levels. It mentions that “ceasefire negotiations appear to have collapsed” and that the UN is unable to operate effectively due to “Israeli restrictions, which prevent the UN-led aid system from using its 400 aid distribution points.” International calls for a ceasefire and an end to the “humanitarian catastrophe” highlight the breakdown of institutions meant to prevent such crises.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• For SDG 2 (Zero Hunger)

  • Prevalence of severe malnutrition in children under five (tripled in two weeks).
  • Proportion of the population below the minimum level of dietary energy consumption (nearly a third of people not eating for days).
  • Number of deaths directly attributed to starvation (122 people).
  • Proportion of pregnant and breastfeeding women identified as malnourished (a quarter of those screened).
  • Number of women and children in urgent need of malnutrition treatment (90,000).

• For SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being)

  • Maternal mortality ratio (implied by a significant increase in miscarriages and severe maternal malnutrition).
  • Under-5 mortality rate (implied by tripling malnutrition rates and deaths from starvation).
  • Neonatal mortality rate (implied by babies being born significantly underweight and prematurely).
  • Proportion of the population with access to essential medicines (indicated by doctors prescribing expired medication).
  • Availability of essential health services (indicated by lack of medical supplies and use of unsanitary gloves).

• For SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions)

  • Number of civilian deaths in conflict, directly and indirectly (122 from starvation, over 1,000 killed seeking food).
  • Number of people affected by restricted access to humanitarian aid (the entire population of Gaza).
  • Success rate of peace and ceasefire negotiations (indicated by their collapse).

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: theguardian.com