Dr Abu Abed Moughaisib

MSF medical coordinator, Gaza



Here's how starvation destroys your body.

In the first 6 to 24 hours, blood sugar drops.

The body burns stored glycogen to stay alive.

1 to 3 days, no more glycogen.

Fat is turned into ketones to fuel your brain.

The body is now in survival mode, we call it.

Within 3 to 5 days, the muscles start breaking down.

The body sacrifices its own tissue, even the heart, just to survive.

This is when children stop crying.

I never thought I would experience it first-hand like I'm doing now.

For the past months, I have been surviving on one meal per day.

And in the last few days, I have even had only one meal every two days, not because I cannot afford it,

but there is nothing to buy, and the markets are completely empty.

And I'm not the only one.

We care for patients who are dying of hunger while we ourselves are starting to starve.

Ambulance drivers who transport the wounded and patients as well are starving.

We are expected to save lives while our own are slowly being consumed. This is not just about hunger, but about the slow destruction of life, dignity, and humanity.

This has to stop.

I mean, to use food, water, aid, as a weapon in this war, that's not acceptable at all.