According to the new Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) report on Gaza, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) stated that a famine may happen any time between now and May 2024 in the northern governorates.

“Take action immediately to avoid the unimaginable.”

The UN Secretary General, António Guterres, stated in New York during a Security Council meeting that the Palestinians in Gaza are facing extreme levels of hunger and hardship. He described the IPC report as a shocking revelation of the dire conditions faced by civilians in the region.

He stated that this is the largest recorded value of individuals experiencing severe hunger according to the Integrated Food Security Classification system, regardless of location or time period.

The speaker cautioned that the current crisis is entirely caused by human actions, but the report demonstrates that it can be stopped. He emphasized the urgency for a prompt implementation of a humanitarian ceasefire.

I urge the Israeli government to guarantee unrestricted and full entry for humanitarian supplies into Gaza and for the global community to fully back our humanitarian endeavors.

“We must take action immediately to prevent what is inconceivable, objectionable, and inexcusable.”

In light of the developing circumstances at Al-Shifa, the Director-General of the UN’s World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, emphasized the importance of preventing hospitals from becoming warzones.

The head of WHO cautioned that the safety and wellbeing of healthcare workers, patients, and citizens were in danger. The restoration of even basic health services at Al-Shifa was only recently achieved.

IPC: A key aid tool

The IPC predictions are created through gathering data from in-person evaluations, which aid workers then utilize to assist the most vulnerable individuals.

The information shows that the total number of people in Gaza, which is approximately 2.3 million, are currently facing a significant amount of urgent food insecurity. Among them, 1.11 million are experiencing catastrophic food insecurity, classified as IPC Phase 5.

Grim hunger data

According to the latest IPC report, the level of urgent hunger in the Gaza Strip has increased significantly since December. The FAO stated that there has been a substantial rise in the number of individuals who are at risk of experiencing catastrophic hunger, with a projected 79% increase from mid-February to mid-March and an expected 92% increase from now until July.

According to FAO Deputy Director-General Beth Bechdol, if no actions are taken to stop ongoing conflicts and increase humanitarian aid, famine will likely occur.

“It may be happening already. We must have immediate access in order to provide urgent and crucial aid on a large scale.”

Skipping meals

According to the report from the International Press Center, nearly all households in Gaza are currently skipping meals every day. Adults are sacrificing their own meals in order for children to have enough to eat.

The FAO reported that in the northern provinces, approximately 66% of households did not have a single meal for at least 10 days in the past 30 days. They also noted that one out of every three children under the age of two in the northern provinces is severely malnourished.

View the press conference from Monday regarding the IPC report on Gaza at the United Nations Headquarters by clicking the link below.

The recent events have prompted the international community to urge a cessation of hostilities and the release of all remaining individuals who were captured during terror acts led by Hamas in Israel on 7 October, resulting in the deaths of approximately 1,200 individuals.

According to reports, the delayed arrival of Israeli negotiators in Qatar has led to the continuation of international efforts for a ceasefire and the release of Israeli hostages on Monday.

Rafah alert

Over the weekend, the Director-General of the WHO, Tedros, shared his strong fears regarding ongoing preparations for an Israeli ground attack on Rafah, a city in the southernmost part of Gaza. The city is currently home to over one million individuals who have sought refuge and are living in congested conditions.

Tedros expressed concerns about a potential increase in violence in the densely populated area, warning that it could result in more deaths and suffering, particularly since the health facilities are already struggling. He stated that the 1.2 million people living in Rafah have nowhere safe to relocate to, and many are too vulnerable, malnourished, and ill to be uprooted again. In a plea for humanitarian action, Tedros urged Israel not to proceed with further escalation and to instead strive for peace.

Bombing endlessly

During the situation of severe Israeli bombing in Gaza, the FAO reported that the conflict had caused a stop in the distribution of water, food, and fuel. The UN organization further stated that all aspects related to food have suffered significant damages, including the cultivation of plants, raising of livestock, and fishing and aquaculture activities.

Approximately 60-70% of livestock in Gaza, which is used for meat and dairy production, has been slaughtered or killed prematurely due to urgent food demands arising from the ongoing conflict.

“In order to assist those in Gaza, FAO has taken action to deliver essential agricultural resources into the region “as soon as the situation permits”. The group stated that their main focus is to transport livestock feed, specifically 1,500 tons of barley, “via the few remaining accessible border checkpoints where food supplies are being distributed.”

According to the FAO, the amount of barley being delivered should be enough to supply milk for all children under the age of 10 in Gaza. It is estimated that the delivery will provide approximately 20 percent of the recommended calorie intake for children.

Death toll latest

As reported by the Gaza health authority, the total number of fatalities in the Strip has risen to 31,726 and 73,792 individuals have been wounded since the start of the conflict.

The development came as the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) warned that life-threatening malnutrition was “spreading fast” and reaching unprecedented levels, “due to the wide-reaching impacts of the war and ongoing restrictions on aid delivery”.

Echoing those concerns, the UN’s top aid official, Martin Griffiths, told a humanitarian forum on Monday that the Organization and its partners were suffering from “an age of war in which reaching for the gun is increasingly the first option…an age in which the UN for example is prevented from doing its job and then criticized for not doing enough. We see this in Gaza.”

During the meeting in Brussels, Natalie Boucly, Deputy Commissioner-General of UNWRA, reaffirmed that it continues to play a crucial role in providing humanitarian aid in Gaza.

She stated that the organization is crucial in providing aid to the Strip, collaborating with various partners such as UNICEF, who have administered vaccinations to 53,000 children in seven remaining UNRWA shelters since January. Other partners include the WHO, WFP, IOM, UNOPS, and non-UN organizations. According to her, the agency is involved in all aspects of aid delivery, from receiving to storing to distributing aid, as well as tracking, reporting, logistics, fuel, transportation, and accommodation. They also coordinate with Israeli authorities.

According to Ms. Boucly, the necessary aid is available just beyond the border. The key to accessing and dispersing it throughout Gaza lies in having the political determination to open more entry points. A ceasefire is also necessary in achieving this goal.

A UNRWA representative expressed a need for increased access points for aid delivery in Gaza, and said that they would increase their assistance if conditions allowed. She noted the current challenges in operating, stating that only a small amount of aid, approximately 99 trucks per day, is able to enter Gaza at this time.

She emphasized the need to loosen the restrictions on receiving aid and improve communication and internet stability, as all of these factors have collapsed.

The origin of the news is UN News.