Five Democratic US senators have called on Secretary of State Marco Rubio to facilitate an immediate 'massive surge' of baby formula and humanitarian aid to Gaza, where infants are dying of starvation. The letter, led by Senator Ruben Gallego of Arizona and obtained exclusively by the Guardian, comes as Gaza City and surrounding areas have been officially classified as experiencing famine by international monitors.
More than 300 people, including at least 119 children, have died from hunger in Gaza since October 2023, according to health authorities. The situation could worsen as Israel announced it will no longer pause fighting to allow aid deliveries in Gaza City, preparing for a fresh ground operation.
'We write to you today with urgency about the grave crisis that infants in Gaza face as a result of severe restrictions on the entry and distribution of humanitarian aid,' the senators wrote. They called on the US to use its 'full power and authority' to meet what they describe as a moral obligation. The letter is also signed by Senators Peter Welch, Tim Kaine, Mark Kelly and Elizabeth Warren.
An August report from Save the Children found that 43% of pregnant and breastfeeding women seeking treatment in Gaza were malnourished. The senators noted that malnourished mothers cannot sustain breastfeeding, making formula 'the only option for infant survival in many cases'. Volunteer doctors have reported Israeli authorities confiscating baby formula from their luggage at the border.
The letter follows a similar appeal from more than 100 House Democrats last week. An estimated 65% of registered voters support US action to help people facing starvation in Gaza, according to late August Reuters/Ipsos polling.
