NEW YORK: UN chief Antonio Guterres has said a report backed by the global hunger monitor saying that starvation is now imminent in northern Gaza was an “appalling indictment” of situations on the ground.
The UN Secretary General told the reporters that it is an entirely manmade catastrophe — and the report also makes clear that it can be prevented. Antonio Guterres called on Israel to ensure access for humanitarian goods across the Gaza Stirp.
Extreme food shortages in the Gaza Strip have already surpassed famine levels, and mass death is now imminent without an immediate truce and surge of food to areas cut off by war, the global hunger monitor said in a statement.
The Integrated Food-Security Phase Classification (IPC), whose valuations are relied on by UN agencies, stated 70% of people in northern Gaza were suffering the most severe level of food scarcity. The IPC said two people out of every 10,000 are dying daily from famine and disease.
Food Scarcity in Gaza
On the other hand, Gaza’s health ministry said that 27 children and three adults have passed away so far from starvation. It added that the actions needed to stop famine need an immediate political decision for a truce together with an immediate increase in humanitarian access to Gaza.
Reuters reported that in all, 1.1 million people, around half the population, were experiencing “disastrous” shortages of food, with around 300,000 in the strip now facing the prospect of famine-level death rates.
The prospect of a manmade starvation in Gaza has brought the strongest criticism of Israel from Western countries since it launched offensive on Gaza.
EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said that they are in a state of famine in Gaza while famine is used as a weapon of war and Israel is aggravating famine.
UN Chief Antonio Guterres called the report of IPC a “terrible indictment” and stated Israel must permit complete and freed access to all areas of Gaza.
In the remains of Gaza City, Israeli troops launched a major offensive on Al Shifa hospital overnight. Once the Gaza’s major hospital, it is now one of the only hospitals still even partially working in the north Gaza.
