Northern Gaza on the brink of famine, warns UN report

Over a million are experiencing ‘catastrophic' food shortages

- BEL TREW

Widespread famine is imminent in north Gaza, where an estimated 70 per cent of the population faces catastrophic hunger, a UN report has warned - warning of a "major acceleration of death” if an immediate ceasefire is not reached alongside an increase in aid.

The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), whose assessments are relied on by UN agencies, said that nearly three-quarters of people in parts of northern Gaza were now afflicted by the most severe level of food shortage, far exceeding the 20 per cent famine threshold.

Those in the two regions of northern Gaza would face famine between now and May, the report said. It estimated residents would be dying at famine scale imminently, and children under four may already be. In all, 1.1 million Palestinians in Gaza, around half the total population, were experiencing “catastrophic” shortages of food, the worst category and nearly double the levels from the last report in December. In the worstcase scenario, the IPC said central and southern Gaza could also face the risk of famine by July.

“The actions needed to prevent famine require an immediate political decision for a ceasefire together with a significant and immediate increase in humanitarian and commercial access to the entire population of Gaza,” the IPC report said. “All efforts must be made to ensure the provision of food, water, medicines, and protection of civilians, as well as to restore and provide health, water, and sanitation services, and energy.”

Famine has been declared just twice in the past 13 years: in parts of Somalia in 2011, and in parts of South Sudan in 2017, but never in the Middle East. The report said that the lack of access aid agencies have had to bring aid in has had a significant impact, with UN and EU officials accusing Israel of a “manmade” famine.