The next is the transcript of an interview with UNICEF govt director Catherine Russell that aired on “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan” on Aug. 24, 2025.
MARGARET BRENNAN: We return now to Gaza and that gorgeous declaration Friday a couple of monitoring group that Gaza Metropolis is experiencing man-made famine, and that these circumstances will develop quickly. UNICEF Government Director Catherine Russell joins us now. We wish to warn our viewers, there will likely be some upsetting photos on this section. Government Director Russell, thanks for becoming a member of us. We have spoken so many instances over the previous few years in regards to the catastrophic hunger. Now you could have this technical designation- so uncommon to see a famine right here. They venture it will unfold. Are you able to clarify, in real-world phrases, what does this imply for the youngsters who reside there?
CATHERINE RUSSELL: Properly, thanks, Margaret. Let me say this: You realize, it has been, now, virtually two years since October seventh, and since then, Israeli youngsters have been killed and brought hostage, and now we’re seeing Palestinian youngsters lastly dealing with what we have been yelling and screaming about for months and months and months, which is a horrible famine. You realize, we have estimated at this level that about 18,000 youngsters in Gaza have already died. And people are youngsters who die from a complete vary of points. However when you consider that, that is about 28 youngsters a day. That is virtually a classroom of kids each single day who’ve died because the starting of this battle. We’ve been saying we beware, proper, this- this famine is excellent across the nook, and it’s- it is virtually such as you’re screaming into an abyss, . It is so- it is surprising that it is occurred, as a result of, as you mentioned, it occurs so not often, nevertheless it’s not shocking. And what it means, actually, is that youngsters have been spending months and months with out adequate meals. And we see only a horrible scenario the place youngsters are on the verge of hunger and finally dying from hunger. And I feel, , on your viewers who have not seen this, and hopefully lots of them haven’t, it’s a haunting picture. Youngsters actually waste away. And also you see it in rooms the place out of the blue they’re all quiet. The youngsters are so quiet as a result of they don’t have any power even to cry, and to see that occur, and particularly in a spot the place meals shouldn’t be very distant, proper? There is no motive for this. This didn’t occur as a result of there have been cyclones or, , droughts. This occurred as a result of we couldn’t get sufficient help in to those youngsters.
MARGARET BRENNAN: And as , the Israeli authorities entity that oversees the Palestinian territories, it is known as COGAT, says there isn’t any famine. They are saying the UN knowledge is flawed. The Prime Minister’s workplace says these are fabrications and as a result of prejudice. Are you able to clarify how what ? We’re displaying photos that we all know journalists have shot- journalists who reside inside Gaza, as a result of journalists usually are not allowed into Gaza to report. How have you learnt that what you are saying is reality?
RUSSELL: Let me say two issues about that. One is the IPC, which is the group that makes this willpower, is an unbiased group. They’re technical individuals. They don’t seem to be political individuals, and so they monitor this as they go, and so they have a look at points like, what are the degrees of meals deprivation, what is the acute malnutrition degree, what number of starvation-related deaths, so it is a very technical evaluation. And I feel we have seen elsewhere that that is very correct. I might additionally say it- to me, it is sort of obscene that we’re having these conversations arguing about whether or not the methodology works or not. We all know youngsters are dying, proper? I’m uninterested in a dialogue about, effectively, are we giving the best info or not? To begin with, let the worldwide press in. Allow them to make determinations. I imply, we have talked about this, Margaret, of you coming, you have to be it your self. Everybody ought to be capable to get in there. Absent that, we’ll should depend on the info that now we have the individuals who had been there, and I can inform you, from the UNICEF perspective, our individuals are tortured by this. I imply, I’ve spoken to our workers, and they’re seeing youngsters who’re extremely disadvantaged, many 1000’s of kids who’ve had amputations, and are, , it is only one horrible factor after one other for youngsters. And to counsel that there is something humorous happening right here is de facto, in my thoughts, just- virtually making the scenario worse, proper? Simply cease the dialogue, cease arguing, and handle the issue. Get meals in there. Handle these youngsters, guarantee that they’ve the wherewithal to outlive and have a distant future.
MARGARET BRENNAN
And the Israeli authorities controls who will get in and who will get out. On the query, although, of creating certain that the meals you do get in will get to the best individuals: The previous US Ambassador to Israel, Jack Lew, and one other Mid-East Envoy have mentioned the UN companies might not prefer it, but when the Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Basis is the one factor actually allowed to function, then perhaps there must be some compromise. Why- why not? America authorities is placing $30 million to work there. Why not work with them?
RUSSELL: You realize, look, I- the methodology of the Gaza Humanitarian Basis shouldn’t be one thing that’s per the way in which humanitarians work. That is a easy reply. And truthfully, , if you consider it, the UN had 400 locations the place we’d distribute help. The Gaza Humanitarian Basis had 4, okay? And you’ve got seen on tv, you could have seen this video of those virtually apocalyptic conditions the place individuals are streaming in direction of these locations, making an attempt to get meals, individuals are getting shot. It is a horrible scenario, and it does not work. It isn’t working that effectively. Now look, I do not- I do not a lot care if the Gaza Humanitarian Basis does some distribution. Simply allow us to our allow us to do our work, too. Allow us to in. We all know how to do that distribution. And once I say we, it is not simply UNICEF, it is the UN, it is the opposite worldwide NGOs. We do all of it around the globe. We have finished it for many years. We all know methods to do it. We all know methods to do it in a method that it will get to the individuals who want it. And I, , do each. I am advantageous with that, however not less than guarantee that humanitarians can get in there and distribute the help pretty, and guarantee that these youngsters usually are not dying unnecessarily. No one needs that. President Trump has mentioned that no person needs that.
MARGARET BRENNAN: He did certainly. I wish to ask you, as effectively, about Sudan, the place there was an enormous humanitarian disaster. If america shouldn’t be main efforts to get help in there, is anybody else stepping up?
RUSSELL: You realize, look, america has the power to be such a drive for good, and we want them to step up and do extra. Sudan, as you say, is the most important displacement disaster on the earth. Tens of millions of kids are on the transfer. They don’t seem to be at school. We now have a horrible outbreak of Cholera, which may be very harmful and kills youngsters inside hours if they cannot get help. I imply, it’s completely horrific. And america could be such a drive for making optimistic contributions. And I feel, , different nations try, however the US actually could make a a lot greater distinction if they fight to do that work, and do it as shortly as doable.
MARGARET BRENNAN: And in Sudan, what’s the generational influence right here? When you do not look —
RUSSELL: Oh, it is horrible. To begin with, they are not getting meals. They’re dealing with horrible sexual violence. I used to be simply in Chad and heard tales that might simply break your coronary heart, and it is devastating, and the outcomes, as you say, will final for generations.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Thanks for sharing that. That is it for us at present. Thanks for watching. I am Margaret Brennan.
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