Brenda Barton

WFP Country Director, Philippines (Former)

[Brenda Barton @Brenda_Barton]

This Is What Malnutrition Does to Children’s Bodies https://t.co/EpSPOqO5fh via @NYTimes

[Brenda Barton @Brenda_Barton]

The World Is Letting Gaza Starve https://t.co/PH6GLZnGk2 via @NYTOpinion

[World Food Programme @WFP]

WFP Statement | #Gaza

On the morning of 20 July, a 25 truck WFP convoy carrying vital food assistance crossed the Zikim border point destined for starving communities in northern Gaza.

Shortly after passing the final checkpoint beyond the Zikim crossing point into Gaza, the convoy encountered large crowds of civilians anxiously waiting to access desperately needed food supplies.

As the convoy approached, the surrounding crowd came under fire from Israeli tanks, snipers and other gunfire.

We are deeply concerned and saddened by this tragic incident resulting in the loss of countless lives. Many more suffered life-threatening injuries. These people were simply trying to access food to feed themselves and their families on the brink of starvation. This terrible incident underscores the increasingly dangerous conditions under which humanitarian operations are forced to be conducted in Gaza.

Today’s violent incident comes despite assurances from Israeli authorities that humanitarian operational conditions would improve; including that armed forces will not be present nor engage at any stage along humanitarian convoy routes.

There should never, ever, be armed groups near or on our aid convoys, as reiterated on many occasions to all parties to the conflict. Shootings near humanitarian missions, convoys and food distributions must stop immediately. Any violence involving civilians seeking humanitarian aid is completely unacceptable.

We stand firmly by our principles of operating with independence, impartiality and neutrality. It is one of the many reasons why communities trust us.

The World Food Programme continues to call for the protection of all civilians and aid workers delivering life-saving assistance. WFP teams accompanying convoys should not have to risk their own lives in the effort to save others. Without these fundamental conditions in place, we cannot continue providing life-saving support across the Gaza strip.

Gaza’s hunger crisis has reached new levels of desperation. People are dying from lack of humanitarian assistance. Malnutrition is surging with 90,000 women and children in urgent need of treatment. Nearly one person in three is not eating for days. Food aid is the only way for most people to access any food – as the cost of a one-kilogram bag of flour has surged to over USD100 in local markets.

Only a massive scale-up in food aid distributions can stabilize this spiraling situation, calm anxieties and rebuild the trust within communities that more food is coming.

An agreed ceasefire is long overdue. All hostages should be released, and humanitarians should be able to reach the civilian population in Gaza with critical food supplies in a consistent, predictable, orderly and safe manner -- wherever they are across the Gaza Strip.

WFP is ready. We have food supplies nearby, experienced teams on the ground, and proven systems in place to respond at scale. We did it before and we can do it again.

We urgently call on the international community and all parties to advocate for, and facilitate, the delivery of life-saving food aid to starving populations inside Gaza – safely, securely, wherever families are, and without obstruction.

[World Food Programme @WFP]

“This is the worst I’ve ever seen."

Swipe to read the words of WFP’s Deputy Executive Director @CarlSkau describing the conditions, danger, and shortages driving hunger in #Gaza“This is the worst I’ve ever seen."

Swipe to read the words of WFP’s Deputy Executive Director @CarlSkau describing the conditions, danger, and shortages driving hunger in #Gaza“This is the worst I’ve ever seen."

Swipe to read the words of WFP’s Deputy Executive Director @CarlSkau describing the conditions, danger, and shortages driving hunger in #Gaza“This is the worst I’ve ever seen."

Swipe to read the words of WFP’s Deputy Executive Director @CarlSkau describing the conditions, danger, and shortages driving hunger in #Gaza.

[WFP Media @WFP_Media]

#GAZA: "it's worse than I've ever seen before."
Starvation is spreading. What we really need is the ceasefire."

On Friday, WFP's @CarlSkau, briefed journalists about his latest visit to Gaza. @UN_Spokesperson

Listen ⤵️
#Ceasefire

[Brenda Barton @Brenda_Barton]

Gaza: UN Urges Immediate Action to Save Lives - OCHA Briefing | United N... https://t.co/9Kbiwyw6KP via @YouTube

[Brenda Barton @Brenda_Barton]

@declanwalsh @PulitzerPrizes Huge applause and thanks for your courage and determination to bring awareness to the tragedy and atrocities in Sudan.

[WFP Media @WFP_Media]

#GAZA -WFP food stocks have run out, as border crossings remain closed.

🔴The situation has reached breaking point.
🔴WFP urges all parties to prioritize the needs of civilians and allow aid to enter Gaza immediately.

WFP's 𝐀𝐧𝐭𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐧𝐚𝐫𝐝 has more⤵️ Thread

[Brenda Barton @Brenda_Barton]

@Frenkie_Woody Sii

[Brenda Barton @Brenda_Barton]

@ggonzzalezz @UN_SDG Best of luck in your new chapter Gustavo !

[Carl Skau @WFPChief]

.@WFP trucks rolled into Gaza today. This is an important first step.

To end hunger in Gaza, this momentum must be maintained with safe, unfettered access. We need humanitarian teams to be able to move freely and safely to reach those in urgent need. https://t.co/cPpSfljYoJ

[Carl Skau @WFPChief]

10M+ people in the #Philippines endured 6 typhoons in 1 month––an unprecedented storm season. @WFP's been on the ground, supporting emergency recovery.

From disaster preparedness to climate-smart solutions, an investment in resilience programs is an investment in food security.

[Nicholas Kristof @NickKristof]

Jimmy Carter, dead today at 100, was mocked as a country bumpkin but didn't deserve our sneers. He probably improved more lives over a longer period of time than any other president. He is the only one in modern times who did not lose a single soldier in combat. My tribute: https://t.co/LFgDZBlIlw RIP, Mr. President.

[Carl Skau @WFPChief]

I was just in Sudan, one of the hungriest places on Earth, where 25M people face acute hunger. @WFP is on the ground delivering lifesaving aid.

We urgently need:
▪️Safe humanitarian access
▪️Aid flowing through every border crossing
▪️More global support for vulnerable Sudanese

[WFP in the Middle East & North Africa @WFP_MENA]

🔴Families in #Gaza face a winter of extreme hunger.

The latest food security report states that over 90% of the population may face acute food insecurity unless fighting stops.

@WFP calls for a halt to fighting & sustained humanitarian access to provide life-saving assistance.

[World Food Programme @WFP]

🎦12 months of tragedy and suffering in #Gaza.

As another winter approaches, every day is a struggle for survival.

Hunger remains rampant and the threat of famine persists. Meanwhile, efforts to bring in vital supplies face increasing challenges.

⏹️This must stop.⏹️

[World Food Programme @WFP]

🔴Supply shortage in #Gaza forced WFP to stop food parcel distributions in October

🔴Southern & central Gaza: no distributions, bakeries running out of flour. Hot meal kitchens still operating in some areas

🔴North Gaza governorate: no longer able to distribute food in any form

[Carl Skau @WFPChief]

5.4M Haitians—half the population—are facing acute hunger. It's the worst hunger crisis in the Western hemisphere.

@WFP is on the ground, delivering lifesaving aid, but we urgently need more support to help families facing extreme food shortages and malnutrition.

[WFP in the Middle East & North Africa @WFP_MENA]

🚨@WFP has launched an emergency operation in #Lebanon, providing vital food assistance to 1M people affected by the conflict. With shelters filled and families displaced, we’re scaling up our efforts but urgently need $105M to continue.

News Release: https://t.co/gZ7dhDBW7s