Hungry Gazans Eat Wild Plant to Survive
2024-03-27
LRC
TXT
大字
小字
滚动
全页
1The United Nations Security Council is demanding an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.
2Some members are concerned that a famine might have begun.
3The territory's civilians are reportedly eating a wild plant called Khobiza because they lack other food to eat.
4The plant is an herb known as mallow.
5The Palestinian area has faced five months of war following the October attack on Israel by its Hamas rulers.
6Israeli officials say the terrorist group killed 1,200 people and took 253 hostages.
7Israel responded to the attack by launching air strikes and shelling in Gaza.
8Hamas' health officials in Gaza say 32,000 Palestinians have died in the conflict.
9It is the worst conflict between Israel and Hamas.
10"All our lives -- even through (previous) wars -- we have not eaten Khobiza," said a Palestinian woman named Maryam Al-Attar.
11She said, "My daughters tell me, 'We want to eat bread, mother.' My heart breaks for them."
12Al-Attar continued, "I can't find a piece of bread for them. I go and gather some Khobiza. We have found Khobiza for now, but in the future, where will we get it from? Khobiza will run out. Where do we turn?"
13The war is continuing during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
14Millions of Muslims around the world enjoy big meals after sunset with their families and watch special television shows.
15"We have been consumed by hunger. We have nothing to eat. We crave vegetables, fish, and meat. We fast with empty stomachs. We can no longer fast. We are dizzy from hunger," said Umm Mohamed.
16She said there was nothing to help the body deal with fasting during Ramadan.
17The Integrated Food-Security Phase Classification (IPC) is a website that examines food and security.
18It says famine is likely to begin by May in northern Gaza.
19A severe lack of food could spread across the rest of the area by July.
20Reports say that Khobiza will only provide temporary help.
21The aid situation for Gaza is also not clear.
22Negotiators are working on the terms of a ceasefire and the release of hostages.
23Recently, an Israeli government spokesperson said Israel will stop working with the U.N. Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) in the Gaza strip.
24It is the largest aid group in Gaza. Israel says the aid agency is causing the conflict to go on longer.
25Israel in January accused 12 of UNRWA's 13,000 workers in Gaza of taking part in the October 7 attack.
26That led several donor countries to stop giving financial support to the group.
27UNRWA dismissed some of its workers.
28It said it acted in order to protect the agency's ability to provide aid in Gaza.
29And an independent internal U.N. investigation was launched.
30I'm Gregory Stachel.
1The United Nations Security Council is demanding an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. 2Some members are concerned that a famine might have begun. 3The territory's civilians are reportedly eating a wild plant called Khobiza because they lack other food to eat. The plant is an herb known as mallow. 4The Palestinian area has faced five months of war following the October attack on Israel by its Hamas rulers. Israeli officials say the terrorist group killed 1,200 people and took 253 hostages. 5Israel responded to the attack by launching air strikes and shelling in Gaza. Hamas' health officials in Gaza say 32,000 Palestinians have died in the conflict. It is the worst conflict between Israel and Hamas. 6"All our lives -- even through (previous) wars -- we have not eaten Khobiza," said a Palestinian woman named Maryam Al-Attar. 7She said, "My daughters tell me, 'We want to eat bread, mother.' My heart breaks for them." 8Al-Attar continued, "I can't find a piece of bread for them. I go and gather some Khobiza. We have found Khobiza for now, but in the future, where will we get it from? Khobiza will run out. Where do we turn?" 9The war is continuing during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. Millions of Muslims around the world enjoy big meals after sunset with their families and watch special television shows. 10"We have been consumed by hunger. We have nothing to eat. We crave vegetables, fish, and meat. We fast with empty stomachs. We can no longer fast. We are dizzy from hunger," said Umm Mohamed. She said there was nothing to help the body deal with fasting during Ramadan. 11The Integrated Food-Security Phase Classification (IPC) is a website that examines food and security. It says famine is likely to begin by May in northern Gaza. A severe lack of food could spread across the rest of the area by July. 12Reports say that Khobiza will only provide temporary help. The aid situation for Gaza is also not clear. Negotiators are working on the terms of a ceasefire and the release of hostages. 13Recently, an Israeli government spokesperson said Israel will stop working with the U.N. Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) in the Gaza strip. It is the largest aid group in Gaza. Israel says the aid agency is causing the conflict to go on longer. 14Israel in January accused 12 of UNRWA's 13,000 workers in Gaza of taking part in the October 7 attack. That led several donor countries to stop giving financial support to the group. 15UNRWA dismissed some of its workers. It said it acted in order to protect the agency's ability to provide aid in Gaza. And an independent internal U.N. investigation was launched. 16I'm Gregory Stachel. 17Mahmoud Issa reported this story for Reuters. Gregory Stachel adapted it for VOA Learning English. 18___________________________________________________ 19Words in This Story 20famine - n. a situation in which many people do not have enough food to eat 21respond - v. to do something as a reaction to something that has happened or been done 22consumed - adj. to take all of a person's attention, energy, or time 23crave - v. to have a very strong desire for (something) 24dizzy - adj. feeling that you are turning around in circles and are going to fall although you are standing still