It is easy to become complacent -- or burned out -- in these times as Gaza is no longer front and center in the headlines. It becomes just another tragedy in another part of the world. Or -- it becomes just too hard to hold.
But, please, do not turn away.
The IPC issued a report that declares that "famine is imminent". Samantha Power said of this report:
"Today, food security experts released a heart-wrenching assessment that Famine is imminent in northern Gaza between now and May. There is also a serious risk of Famine for the rest of Gaza. The catastrophic levels of hunger and malnutrition described in the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) report should be unimaginable in the current era, but for hundreds of thousands of Palestinians in Gaza, this is the reality. With just two previous Famine declarations in the twenty-first century, this is a horrific milestone."
Unicef reports that at least 23 children have died from malnutrition and dehydration -- they have been starved to death.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
Share the petition: over 800 have signed which is great. Students are stepping up big time! We need more townies so use your networks to share the petition and ask others to sign.
Call or write or meet with your Council member or one of the At-Large members of Council. It is this personal outreach that let's them know you care. Council contacts can be found here.
Attend City Council on April 2: At the last Council meeting, 50 people attended and 13 people spoke. Let's double that number for the next Council meeting -- those wishing to speak can sign up the night of the Council meeting. A video of the presentations to Council on March 12th can be found here.
If you have questions, comments, concerns, I can be reached at jdhartley1@aol.com or 781-248-7180.
Ramadan Mubarak,
Jenny Hartley -- Northfield, MN
RESOURCES
https://www.ipcinfo.org/ipcinfo-website/alerts-archive/issue-97/en/
https://www.usaid.gov/news-information/press-releases/mar-18-2024-famine-imminent-northern-gaza
https://www.wfp.org/news/famine-imminent-northern-gaza-new-report-warns
https://www.unicefusa.org/stories/more-13000-children-reported-dead-gaza-famine-nears
Photo: https://www.cnn.com/2024/03/07/world/gallery/gaza-hunger-malnutrition/index.html