UN says 500,000 in Gaza facing 'catastrophic' hunger

The United Nations on Aug 22 officially declared a famine in Gaza, the first in the Middle East, with its experts saying 500,000 people were facing "catastrophic" hunger.

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GAZA CITY - The United Nations on Aug 22 officially declared a famine in Gaza, the first in the Middle East, with its experts saying 500,000 people were facing "catastrophic" hunger.

UN aid chief Tom Fletcher said the famine was entirely preventable, saying food could not get through to the Palestinian territory "because of systematic obstruction by Israel".

But Israel's Foreign Ministry immediately hit back, saying "there is no famine in Gaza".

In a statement, it slammed the report by Rome-based panel, Integrated Food Security Phase Classification Initiative (IPC), saying it was "based on Hamas lies laundered through organisations with vested interests".

"In recent weeks, a massive influx of aid has flooded the Strip with staple foods and caused a sharp decline in food price," the ministry said.

"This assessment too will be thrown into the despicable trash bin of political documents," it added.

UN rights chief Volker Turk said "it is a war crime to use starvation as a method of warfare", minutes after famine was declared in the Gaza Strip.