– Immediate action is required – within days, not weeks – from all actors who participate directly in the conflict or can influence its course, to prevent and remedy the catastrophic situation, write the independent experts in the IPC initiative for food crisis analysis.
– There is a high probability of imminent famine in areas north of the Gaza Strip, it says the extraordinarily powerful warning.
– The situation is extremely serious and is deteriorating rapidly, the experts add.
IPC is an English abbreviation for Integrated Classification of Food Security Phases, a standardized set of tools used by the UN and aid organizations to determine the degree of food insecurity in an area.
Deadline expires
The warning comes shortly before the US deadline for Israel to let in more emergency aid expires.
On October 13, the US gave Israel a 30-day deadline to let in at least 350 truckloads of food and other necessities daily. If this does not happen, the US threatens to withhold arms aid to Israel.
Israel claims that they let in 57 truckloads daily in October, and that in the first week of November 81 truckloads were let in daily.
The UN disputes
The UN disputes this and claims that since the beginning of October it has only let in an average of 37 lorry loads per day.
Before the war, an average of 500 truckloads of supplies were brought in daily to Gaza’s approximately 2.3 million inhabitants, says the head of WFP’s analysis department, Jean-Martin Bauer.
A spokesman for the US Foreign Ministry, Matthew Miller, said on Monday this week that Israel has taken significant steps to provide more emergency aid, but that more is needed to reduce suffering.
Unacceptable
The head of the UN Food Program (WFP), Cindy McCain, also emphasizes the seriousness of the situation.
– Now what is unacceptable is confirmed: There will probably be a famine in the north of the Gaza Strip, she writes on X.
– Steps must be taken immediately to ensure a safe, fast and unimpeded flow of humanitarian aid and commercial supplies so that an all-encompassing disaster can be prevented. It has to happen now, she writes.
Starvation
Development Minister Anne Beathe Tvinnereim (Sp) also strongly emphasizes Israel’s commitment to allowing emergency aid into the Gaza Strip.
– That Gaza is on the brink of a famine disaster is completely man-made. The 60,000 children who are now acutely malnourished can get help and they can survive, if only the UN is allowed to do its job, she says.
Tvinnereim accuses Israel of “indiscriminate and disproportionate attacks” in Gaza and of largely denying the civilian population there “access to food and necessary emergency aid”.
– Starving the civilian population is against the rules of war, she states.
– Regardless of what happens between the parties, Israel has an obligation to allow food and medicine to reach the civilian population in Gaza, says Tvinnereim.
Famine
An IPC report in mid-October warned of widespread food insecurity throughout the Gaza Strip. The report graded the crisis at level four out of five, but stated that 133,000 people in Gaza were all experiencing level five, that is, famine.
Since that report was made, Israeli forces have carried out extensive attacks in the north of the Gaza Strip, which is now completely cut off from the outside world.
According to Palestinian health authorities, at least 43,500 people have been killed and over 102,000 injured since Israel went to war against the Gaza Strip just over a year ago.
Thousands of others are feared to be buried in the ruins of bombed buildings, and the figure also does not include those who have succumbed to hunger, disease and lack of health care as a result of the war.
#Experts #warn #danger #famine #Gaza
**Interview with Food Security Expert Dr. Emily Harrow on the Gaza Strip Famine Risk**
**Interviewer:** Thank you for joining us today, Dr. Harrow. The recent warnings from the IPC initiative highlight an urgent food crisis in the Gaza Strip. Can you explain the severity of the situation?
**Dr. Harrow:** Thank you for having me. The situation in Gaza is indeed dire. The IPC report indicates a high probability of imminent famine, particularly in the northern regions. With Israeli airstrikes and the ongoing blockade, the people of Gaza are facing unprecedented food insecurity. The warnings emphasize that immediate action is required within days to prevent a humanitarian disaster.
**Interviewer:** What are the specific factors contributing to this crisis?
**Dr. Harrow:** Several factors are at play. The Israeli blockade has drastically reduced the flow of essential supplies into Gaza. Prior to the conflict, the area received around 500 truckloads of supplies daily, but now it’s reduced to just a fraction of that. The UN reports an average of 37 truckloads per day recently. This shortage, combined with ongoing violence, has left millions at risk of starvation.
**Interviewer:** The United States has set a deadline for Israel regarding the aid situation. How critical is it that this deadline is met?
**Dr. Harrow:** It’s extremely critical. The U.S. has given Israel a 30-day ultimatum to facilitate at least 350 truckloads of aid daily. If this isn’t achieved, there are threats to withhold military support. This pressure could potentially lead to increased humanitarian aid access that is desperately needed to alleviate the suffering in Gaza.
**Interviewer:** Cindy McCain from the WFP has stated that famine is likely; what does that mean for the inhabitants of Gaza?
**Dr. Harrow:** If famine is declared, it means that a substantial portion of the population will face severe food shortages, malnutrition, and presumably increased mortality rates. It signals a complete breakdown of food security that could have catastrophic health implications, particularly for vulnerable groups like children and the elderly.
**Interviewer:** What are the key actions that need to be taken right now to avert this crisis?
**Dr. Harrow:** First and foremost, a safe and reliable flow of humanitarian aid must be established. International actors need to prioritize negotiations to allow unimpeded access for aid organizations. Additionally, there’s a pressing need for dialogue among conflict participants to address the underlying issues and promote a ceasefire. Without immediate action, the situation will only worsen.
**Interviewer:** Thank you, Dr. Harrow, for shedding light on this urgent crisis. It’s clear that both local and international efforts are critical in addressing this humanitarian emergency.
**Dr. Harrow:** Thank you for bringing attention to this critical issue. It’s vital that we all remain informed and advocate for those in desperate need.
