AFP to Evacuate Freelance Journalists from Gaza Amid Starvation Risk
The AFP Journalists’ Union has announced that the agency will evacuate its freelance journalists from Gaza, where they face the risk of starvation due to Israel’s blockade and the severe humanitarian crisis.
Kokcha News Agency: The AFP Journalists’ Union (SDJ de l’AFP) has announced that Agence France-Presse (AFP) will evacuate its freelance journalists from Gaza, where they are at risk of starvation due to the ongoing Israeli blockade and the lack of humanitarian aid. In a statement posted on the union’s X account, it was revealed that AFP management is deeply concerned about the deteriorating living conditions of its journalists in Gaza.
The statement emphasized that despite the journalists’ courage, dedication, and exemplary resilience, their situation has become untenable. The union highlighted that AFP had already evacuated eight employees between January and April 2024 and has now decided to evacuate its freelance journalists as well.
The statement also pointed out that international journalists are banned from entering Gaza, making the work of the few local journalists there crucial for informing the world about the situation. However, the union stressed that evacuation has become unavoidable for those remaining in Gaza.
In a previous statement, the AFP Journalists’ Union expressed shock at the starvation crisis in Gaza, stating, “Since AFP was founded in August 1944, we have lost journalists in conflicts, had wounded and captured colleagues, but none of us remember seeing a colleague die of starvation.”
According to Gaza’s Government Media Office, 229 Palestinian journalists have been killed in Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip since October 7, 2023. Additionally, the Gaza Health Ministry reported that 86 Palestinians, including 76 children, have died from starvation and malnutrition since October 2023 due to the blockade on aid.
Casualty Figures in Gaza:
- Total Deaths Since October 7, 2023: Over 59,029
- Total Injuries Since October 7, 2023: 142,135
- Deaths Since Israel Resumed Attacks on March 18, 2024: 8,196
- Injuries Since March 18, 2024: 30,094
- Deaths in Israeli-US Humanitarian Aid Distribution Zones Since May 27, 2024: 1,021
- Injuries in Aid Distribution Zones Since May 27, 2024: 6,511
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has announced plans to expand and make permanent the occupation of the Gaza Strip, further escalating the crisis.
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