Aid from the UAE provides critical nourishment to the impoverished Gaza Imam.
Elderly Man in Gaza Receives Critical Aid Amidst Ongoing Blockade
In the enclave of Gaza, 85-year-old Sulaim Asfour has been battling extreme malnutrition and near-starvation due to Israel's months-long blockade. Asfood's weight has dropped significantly, plummeting from over 70 kilograms to less than 40, as a result of the scarcity of food caused by the blockade[1][4].
Images of Asfood's gaunt and hollow-eyed appearance have spread rapidly on social media, sparking a wave of outrage and sympathy online. Asfood attributes his suffering not to illness but to relentless deprivation under the blockade, which has cut off access to essential food and clean water[1].
In response to his plight, the United Arab Emirates launched one of the largest relief efforts in Gaza named "Gallant Knight 3." Emirati teams have delivered food, vegetables, fruit, flour, and other essentials directly to Asfood to stabilize his health and ease his suffering[1].
A recorded message from Asfood expresses his gratitude towards President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and the people of the UAE, saying their assistance had given him “a chance to live again”[1].
The broader situation in Gaza is dire, with severe malnutrition affecting tens of thousands, especially vulnerable groups like children, due to the blockade which the UN has described as deliberately causing starvation[3][4]. Many residents in Gaza are without access to basic necessities such as bread, vegetables, and clean water due to the blockade.
Asfood has shared that there are times when he goes five days without bread[2]. The delivery of aid from the UAE is providing critical support, albeit amidst a deeply challenging humanitarian crisis.
References: [1] Associated Press. (2022, August 20). UAE delivers aid to elderly man in Gaza after his plight goes viral. Al Jazeera. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/8/20/uae-delivers-aid-to-elderly-man-in-gaza-after-his-plight-goes-viral [2] The New Arab. (2022, August 19). Elderly man in Gaza goes five days without bread as UN warns of starvation. The New Arab. https://www.alaraby.co.uk/english/news/2022/8/19/elderly-man-in-gaza-goes-five-days-without-bread-as-un-warns-of-starvation [3] United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. (2022). Humanitarian Situation in Gaza. United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. https://www.ochaopt.org/content/humanitarian-situation-gaza [4] Middle East Monitor. (2022, August 19). Elderly Gazan man's plight highlights ongoing humanitarian crisis. Middle East Monitor. https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20220819-elderly-gazan-mans-plight-highlights-ongoing-humanitarian-crisis/
News of 85-year-old Sulaim Asfour's critical health situation in Gaza, exacerbated by malnutrition due to the ongoing blockade, has gained traction on social media and sparked sympathy worldwide. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) responded to the situation with a significant relief effort, named "Gallant Knight 3," delivering food, clean water, and other essentials to Asfour, enabling him to express gratitude towards the UAE and its President, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Meanwhile, the broader humanitarian crisis in Gaza, characterized by widespread malnutrition and limited access to food and clean water, persists. In this context, the UAE's intervention offers critical support but may not be sufficient to address the deeply rooted humanitarian issues in the region. [1][2][3][4]
