Transcription: Executive Director of UNICEF Catherine Russell in

The following is the transcription of an interview with UNICEF executive director, Catherine Russell, which was broadcast on “Fac The Nation with Margaret Brennan” on August 24, 2025.

Margaret Brennan: We now return to Gaza and that impressive statement on Friday about a monitoring group that Gaza City is experiencing man -made famine, and that these conditions will expand soon. The Executive Director of UNICEF, Catherine Russell, joins us now. We want to warn our viewers, there will be some disturbing images in this segment. Russell Executive Director, thanks for joining us. We have spoken so many times in recent years about catastrophic starvation. Now you have this technical designation, it is very rare to see a famine here. They project that it will be extended. Can you explain, in terms of the real world, what does this mean for children living there?

Catherine Russell: Well, thanks, Margaret. Let me say this: you know, now, now, almost two years since October 7, and since then, Israeli children have been killed and taken as hostages, and now we are seeing the Palestinian children that we finally face what we have been shouting and shouting for months and months and months, which is a terrible famine. You know, we have estimated at this point that about 18,000 children in Gaza have already died. And those are children who die from a wide range of problems. But when you think about that, they are about 28 children a day. That is almost a children’s classroom every day that has died since the beginning of this conflict. We have been saying that we are careful, of course, this: this famine is just around the corner, and it is almost as if you were screaming in an abyss, you know. Thus, it is shocking that it happened, because, as you said, it happens very rarely, but it is not surprising. And what it really means is that children have spent months and months without enough food. And we see only a horrible situation in which children are on the verge of hunger and finally die from hunger. And I think, you know, for your spectators who have not seen this, and hopefully many of them have not done so, it is a disturbing image. Children literally waste. And you see it in the rooms where you know that they are suddenly silent. Children are so quiet because they don’t even have energy to cry, and see that happens, and especially in a place where food is not far away, right? There is no reason for this. This did not happen because there were cyclones or, you know, droughts. This happened because we couldn’t get enough help for these children.

Margaret Brennan: And as they know, the Entity of the Israeli government that supervises the Palestinian territories, is called Cogat, says there is no famine. They say that UN data is defective. The prime minister’s office says that these are manufacture and due to prejudices. Can you explain how you know what you know? We are showing images that we know that journalists have filmed, journalists living within Gaza, because journalists are not allowed to Gaza to inform. How do you know what you are saying is a fact?

Russell: Let me say two things about it. One is the CPI, which is the organization that makes this determination, is an independent organization. They are technical people. They are not political people, and monitor this as they advance, and look at issues such as what are the levels of food deprivation, what is the acute level of malnutrition, how many deaths related to starvation, so it is a very technical evaluation. And I think we have seen in other places that this is very precise. I would also say it: for me, it is a bit obscene that we are having these conversations discussing whether the methodology works or not. We know that children are dying, right? I am tired of a discussion about, well, are we giving the right information or not? First, that the international press. Let them make determinations. I mean, we have talked about this, Margaret, of you coming, you should be yourself. Everyone should be able to enter there. In the absence that we will have to trust the data we have to the people who were there, and I can tell him, from the perspective of UNICEF, our people are tortured by this. I mean, I have spoken with our staff, and they are seeing incredibly private children, thousands of children who have had amputations, and are just a terrible thing after another for children. And suggesting that there is something fun here is really, in my opinion, almost worsening the situation, right? Simply stop the discussion, stop discussing and address the problem. Get food there. Take care of these children, make sure you have the means to survive and have a distant future.

Margaret Brennan

And the Israeli government controls who enters and who leaves. However, in the question of ensuring that the food it receives reaches the right people: the former United States ambassador to Israel, Jack Lew and another envoy of the Middle East have said that UN agencies may not like it, but if the Humanitarian Foundation of Gaza backed by Israel is the only really allowed to operate, then perhaps perhaps it is necessary. Why not? The United States government is putting $ 30 million to work there. Why not work with them?

Russell: You know, look, the methodology of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation is not something that is consistent with the way humanitarian works. That is a simple answer. And honestly, you know, if you think about it, the UN had 400 places where we would distribute help. Gaza’s Humanitarian Foundation was four, okay? And you’ve seen on television, you have seen this video of these almost apocalyptic situations in which people transmit to these places, trying to get food, people are being shot. It is a terrible situation and does not work. It doesn’t work so well. Now look, I don’t care much if the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation makes some distribution. Just leave us to do our work as well. Come on. We know how to make this distribution. And when I say, it’s not just UNICEF, it’s the UN, they are the other international NGOs. We do it all over the world. We have done it for decades. We know how to do it. We know how to do it in a way that reaches people who need it. And I know, do both. I am fine with that, but at least make sure that humanitarians can enter there and distribute the help fairly, and make sure that these children are not dying unnecessarily. Nobody wants that. President Trump has said that nobody wants that.

Margaret Brennan: He did it in fact. I also want to ask you about Sudan, where there was a massive humanitarian crisis. If the United States does not lead the efforts to get help there, is anyone else taking a step forward?

Russell: You know, look, the United States has the ability to be a force for good, and we need to take a step forward and do more. Sudan, as you say, is the largest displacement crisis in the world. Millions of children are moving. They are not at school. Now we have a horrible outbreak of anger, which is very destructive and kills the children in a matter of hours if they cannot get help. I mean, it’s absolutely horrible. And the United States can be a force to make positive contributions. And I think, you know, other countries are trying, but the United States can really make a much greater difference if they try to do this job, and do it as quickly as possible.

Margaret Brennan: And in Sudan, what is the generational impact here? When you don’t look –

Russell: Oh, it’s horrible. First, they are not receiving food. They face horrible sexual violence. I was in Chad and listened to stories that could break your heart, and it is devastating, and the results, as you say, will last generations.

Margaret Brennan: Thank you for sharing that. That’s all for us today. Thanks for looking. I am Margaret Brennan.