Agence France-Presse (AFP) reports that its freelance journalists in Gaza are facing persistent health problems, and a union warns they are at risk of death “without immediate intervention.”
According to The Society of Journalists at AFP union, the news agency employs one freelance reporter, three photographers, and six freelance video journalists in the Gaza Strip, ever since its own staff left the war-torn region in 2024.
AFP’s global news director, Phil Chetwynd, stated, “They’re dedicating significant time and effort to securing food and are experiencing profound weakness. They report constant headaches and dizziness, which impairs their physical ability to cover stories.”
The union’s statement declared, “Without immediate intervention, the last reporters in Gaza will die. Along with a few others, they are the only ones currently reporting from Gaza, as the international press has been barred from entering the territory for nearly two years.”
The union added, “Since AFP’s inception in August 1944, we have mourned journalists lost in conflicts, and witnessed injuries and imprisonments within our ranks. However, none of us can recall a colleague dying of hunger. We refuse to let them perish.”
The union mentioned that their lead photographer in Gaza, identified as Bashar, posted on Facebook on Saturday, “I no longer have the strength to work for the media. My body is weak, and I am unable to continue working.”
The Society of Journalists at AFP explained, “Bashar, 30, lives and works under the same conditions as all Gazans, constantly moving between refugee camps amidst conflict. He has endured absolute poverty for over a year, facing significant risks to perform his job. Hygiene is a major challenge for him, leading to recurring bouts of severe intestinal illness.”
The union continued, “Since February, Bashar has been living in the ruins of his house in Gaza City with his mother, four brothers and sisters, and the family of one of his brothers. Their house is completely without amenities or comfort, shared with a few cousins. On Sunday morning, he reported that one of his brothers had ‘fallen, due to hunger.’”
The union noted that each freelance journalist in Gaza receives a monthly salary from AFP. However, “there’s almost nothing to buy — or what is available is prohibitively expensive.”
Representatives from the AP and Reuters also voiced concerns for their teams but declined to specify the number of people working for them.
Lauren Easton, a spokeswoman for The Associated Press, said, “We are deeply concerned about our staff in Gaza and are doing everything in our power to support them. We are very proud of the work our team continues to do under dire circumstances to keep the world informed about what is happening on the ground.”
Reuters stated that they maintain daily contact with their freelance journalists and that “the conflict is leading to their and all Gaza residents experiencing greater levels of hunger and illness.”
The agency added that they are providing additional financial assistance to their journalists.
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