ROME: Half of Gaza residents are experiencing “catastrophic” hunger, with famine projected to hit the Palestinian territory’s north by May unless urgent action is taken, a UN-backed food security assessment said Monday.
Beth Bechdol, the deputy director-general of the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), described the situation as “unprecedented,” emphasizing that around 1.1 million people in Gaza are experiencing “catastrophic food insecurity” due to the ongoing Israeli bombardment campaign.
The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) partnership, responsible for monitoring hunger levels, highlighted the severity of the crisis, with hunger ratings reaching the highest level on their scale. The situation in the north of Gaza was identified as particularly dire, with aid agencies struggling to access the area for food distribution.
Looming Famine in Northern Gaza
According to the IPC report, famine is imminent in the northern governorates, with projections indicating that it could occur anytime between mid-March and May 2024. The report emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating that waiting for a retrospective famine classification before taking action is indefensible.
Despite efforts to deliver aid by air or sea, UN agencies stress that these methods cannot adequately substitute land deliveries, which remain impeded by ongoing hostilities.
The IPC report outlined that famine is likely to occur under the most probable scenario, assuming an escalation of the conflict, including a ground offensive in Rafah, and continued obstacles to humanitarian aid delivery.
