AFP pleads for evacuation of journalists facing starvation in Gaza

In Gaza, the humanitarian situation has reached catastrophic levels, as local journalists from Agence France-Presse (AFP) face severe food shortages and exhaustion due to ongoing military operations and an enduring blockade. Since international staff were withdrawn in early 2024, the agency has relied heavily on local freelancers for reporting, becoming their sole source for news from the region. As conditions deteriorate, journalists are reporting debilitating symptoms like headaches and dizziness from starvation, and many fear for their lives. The Society of Journalists at AFP has urgently called for intervention to prevent the potential loss of lives among these dedicated reporters, who are now facing an unprecedented crisis. A group of journalists at AFP emphasized their dire circumstances, stating that the ongoing conflict has placed tremendous pressure on those remaining in Gaza, as access to vital resources continues to diminish. With the Israeli government restricting foreign media entry to the enclave since the outbreak of war with Hamas in October 2023, local reporters have become indispensable in covering this prolonged conflict. The humanitarian organizations warn that the lives of journalists, aid workers, and civilians in Gaza are increasingly at risk due to acute shortages of food and water amidst military operations. Freelancers report losing significant weight and energy levels, undermining their capacity to effectively report on critical events unfolding around them. In a social media post, Bashar, an AFP photographer who has worked with the agency since 2010, lamented his declining health, stating he has become too weak to fulfill his journalistic duties. The situation has become so severe that some journalists have expressed feelings of hopelessness, grappling with despair over the potential loss of their lives or family members due to hunger. As several humanitarian organizations have called for an end to the issue, with over 100 organizations jointly petitioning for Israel to lift the blockade and restore essential supplies, AFP is exerting pressure on the Israeli government to grant a safe passage for its freelancers and their families. A recent statement from the agency noted their efforts to evacuate teams and stressed that their reporters are essential for keeping the world informed while underscoring the urgent need for international aid to address the escalating crisis.