Gaza: UN-backed experts have issued a dire warning, stating that an irreversible famine is unfolding in Gaza unless humanitarian groups gain immediate and unobstructed access to the region. The announcement follows alarming reports from health authorities in the Hamas-controlled territory, indicating that over 60,000 individuals have perished due to Israel's nearly two-year offensive, instigated by the militant group's 2023 attack.
According to Nam News Network, the Rome-based Integrated Food Security Phase Classification Initiative (IPC) has declared that recent air-drops over Gaza, initiated by various countries, will not suffice to prevent the looming humanitarian crisis. In a separate statement, UN humanitarian agencies have underscored that Gaza is on the brink of a full-scale famine, urging donors to provide large-scale food aid without delay.
The situation has been exacerbated by a total blockade imposed by Israel on March 2, following the breakdown of ceasefire talks. Although a limited resumption of aid was permitted in late May, warnings of widespread starvation persist. The IPC's latest data indicates that famine thresholds have been surpassed in most parts of Gaza, with a rapid increase in hunger-related deaths among young children.
Tragically, over 20,000 children have been treated for acute malnutrition between April and mid-July, with more than 3,000 classified as severely malnourished. Since July 17, at least 16 children under the age of five have succumbed to hunger. Mounting evidence reveals that widespread starvation, malnutrition, and disease are contributing to a surge in hunger-related fatalities.
In response to the crisis, Israel announced a tactical pause in military operations in parts of Gaza on Sunday, allowing over 120 truckloads of food into the territory. Jordan and the UAE have also conducted food air-drops. However, the IPC cautions that air drops pose risks to civilians and are insufficient to reverse the humanitarian disaster. The organization advocates for delivering food by road, emphasizing its effectiveness, safety, and speed. The most vulnerable, particularly children suffering from acute malnutrition, require consistent access to life-saving treatment.
Following the IPC's alert, UNICEF, the World Food Programme (WFP), and the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) have warned that time is running out for Gaza. FAO Director General Qu Dongyu, in a joint statement with other UN aid agencies, emphasized that the crisis stems from blocked access rather than food scarcity, underscoring the right to food as a basic human right.
WFP's emergency director, Ross Smith, speaking in Geneva, likened the humanitarian disaster to historic famines in Ethiopia and Nigeria's Biafra region, describing it as unprecedented in this century. The IPC is working on a new analysis to urgently provide updated figures on the crisis in Gaza.
