Anwar Should Move Oic To Address Starvation In Gaza

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Dear Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim,
The humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza has reached unconscionable levels, with the United Nations and global humanitarian agencies warning of imminent famine and systemic collapse.
Below are some of the facts as of May 20:
The World Food Programme (WFP) reports that all food stocks in Gaza are completely depleted, leaving over 2 million residents without access to food.
ADSThe Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) indicates that 470,000 people in Gaza are facing catastrophic hunger (IPC Phase 5), and the entire population is experiencing acute food insecurity.
Basic food items, such as flour and cooking oil, have seen price increases of thousands of percent, making them unaffordable for most residents.
Critical shortages
The destruction of water infrastructure and blockade of fuel have left over 90 percent of the population without access to clean drinking water, forcing many to consume contaminated sources.
Hospitals are non-functional or overwhelmed, many operating without electricity or clean water.
An attack on Al Shifa Hospital in Gaza in April 2024Critical shortages include anaesthetics, antibiotics, cancer medications, dialysis supplies, surgical tools, and bandages.
Over 30,000 wounded individuals cannot receive proper treatment, with thousands at risk of dying from otherwise treatable injuries.
Over 1.7 million people have been displaced, with many shelters overcrowded, unsanitary, and unsafe.
Numerous families are sleeping in the open, exposed to the ongoing airstrikes.
There is no consistent electricity.
Harrowing scenes
ADSRecent reports from The Guardian, Al-Jazeera, the World Health Organization (WHO), and the UN paint a harrowing picture:
Starvation as a weapon: Two million Gazans face starvation while lifesaving food supplies sit blocked at borders - just minutes away. WHO director-general Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warns that Gaza’s population endures “catastrophic hunger, acute malnutrition, and death” due to the Israeli blockade.
Global condemnation: Leaders of Britain, France, and Canada have condemned Israel’s “wholly disproportionate” military offensive and aid restrictions, threatening “further concrete actions” unless compliance with international law is ensured.
Israel restricts humanitarian aid from reaching GazaUN alarm: The UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination demands immediate humanitarian access, citing catastrophic consequences for civilians.
Two million people in dire state: Israel’s limited aid plan for Gaza falls far short of what is needed and violates basic humanitarian principles.
Akihiro Seita, the health director of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), was quoted as saying:
“We have two million people who have endured three months of being deprived of all of the basics that they need to survive – food, water, medicine.
“Malnutrition rates in Gaza may increase ‘exponentially’ if food shortages continue. I have data until the end of April, and it shows malnutrition on the rise.
“It may then get beyond our control.”
Despite these warnings, aid remains obstructed, with only a trickle of trucks permitted, far below what is needed to avert mass death.
M’sia’s important role
Anwar, Malaysia plays an important role in the Muslim world; Malaysia’s influential voice is urgently needed to halt this tragedy. Malaysia has long championed the Palestinian cause with moral clarity.
We therefore implore your leadership to urge the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to:
Convene an emergency OIC Summit. We trust you would leverage Malaysia’s influence to demand an urgent OIC meeting, unifying member states behind enforceable measures to break the blockade.
Demand unrestricted humanitarian access. OIC should lead efforts to insist that all border crossings (especially Rafah and Kerem Shalom) be open for food, medicine, and fuel without delay or obstruction.
Support accountability. Endorse independent investigations into weaponising starvation as a war crime under the Geneva Conventions.
Engage US diplomacy. Urge the Donald Trump administration to enforce international law by pressuring Israel to cease the collective punishment of the innocent and facilitate aid.
Urge Trump to drop his plan to relocate up to one million Palestinians from Gaza to Libya permanently. This proposal reportedly involves discussions with Libyan authorities and the potential release of frozen Libyan funds as compensation.
Thank you.
- Mkini
WAYTHA MOORTHY PONNUSAMY is president of the Malaysian Advancement Party (MAP), a former minister in the Prime Minister’s Department in charge of national unity and social wellbeing, and a former key leader of the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf).
The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of MMKtT.

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