A/HRC/10/22 page 16 Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East have therefore increased, bringing the total number of people dependent on food aid from both organizations to 1,275,300.37 50. Even after the cessation of the hostilities, humanitarian aid convoys still met restrictions on providing for the urgent food and nutritional needs of the population of Gaza, a violation of the obligations of Israel as the occupying Power of the Gaza Strip.38 These obstacles to food aid were further exacerbated by incidents of confiscation of food parcels destined for distribution to beneficiary families reportedly by Hamas police personnel.39 While noting that these food parcels were returned, the Special Rapporteur would like to recall that respecting the right to food entails, inter alia, refraining from taking any measures that result in preventing people’s access to food. 3. Impact on the right to food 51. According to the Palestine Monitor Fact Sheet of 18 December 2008, rates of food insecurity rose from 34 per cent in 2006 to 38 per cent in 2008, as 75 per cent of Palestinians reduced the quantity of food purchased and 89 per cent switched to less nutritious diets in 2006 and 2007. This has had a particularly severe impact on children, who are often the first victims of malnutrition.40 The Palestine Monitor estimates that, in 2009, the rate of chronic malnutrition of Palestinian children under 2 has reached 10 per cent. 41 Close to half of children of that age group suffer from anaemia. Two thirds of all children reportedly suffer from a lack of vitamin A.42 One in 10 girls and boys under the age of 5 evidence stunted growth in Gaza.43 52. Global food price increases have further driven the cost of food in Gaza far beyond the purchasing power of most of the population. According to the Palestine Monitor Fact Sheet, at 37 Ibid., 9 February 2009. 38 “To the fullest extent of the means available to it, the occupying Power has the duty of ensuring the food and medical supplies of the population; it should, in particular, bring in the necessary foodstuffs, medical stores and other articles if the resources of the occupied territory are inadequate.” Fourth Geneva Convention, art. 55. 39 UN News, “UN suspends aid operation after second Hamas-linked theft of supplies”, 6 February 2009. 40 The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, Gaza Strip Inter-Agency Humanitarian Fact Sheet, March 2008. 41 “Why the Gaza disaster is not three weeks old and has not stopped along with the bombs”, 22 January 2009. See www.palestinemonitor.org. 42 See United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), “Aid for Gaza’s Children”, 11 January 2009, and Richard Falk, “The Siege of Gaza”, 22 December 2008. 43 See Save the Children, West Bank and Gaza at www.savethechildren.org.