Colum Lynch of DEVEX reports that the USAID has sent a confidential assessment letter to SOS Blinken titled, “ Famine Inevitable, Changes Could Reduce but Not Stop Widespread Civilian Deaths.”
The letter states that “the government of Israel (GOI) does not currently demonstrate necessary compliance with the Presidential Memo’s requirement that it facilitate and not impede “the transport of delivery of United States humanitarian assistance” as well as U.S.-backed international efforts to provide relief (in Gaza). President Biden’s Memo of February 8 prohibits the delivery of offensive weapons to states that violate humanitarian law. The USAID Assessment further states that “the deterioration of food security and nutrition in Gaza is unprecedented in modern history, exponentially outpacing in six months the long-term declines that led to the only other two famine declarations in the 21st century: Somalia (2011) and South Sudan (2017)...” The folks at USAID are certain that even if more food trickles in the short run, it will be insufficient to stave off widespread famine in the Gaza Strip induced by Israel’s siege and attacks on aid convoys and infrastructure.
This assessment letter implies that the Administration must implement POTUS’s directive in order to abide by the laws of the United States. The reticence of the Administration to implement similar laws in the past however, suggests that the assessment will likely be ignored once the IDF merely claims, “it, the most moral army in the world, always follows the law”.
The impending Israeli ground and air attack on Rafah where 1.5 million displaced Gazans have sought refuge, at Israel’s insistence, is also where food aid is primarily distributed. The effects of such an attack will be catastrophic. Read Lynch’s article here: www.devex.com/...