According to the latest report from the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification Initiative (IPC), North Gaza is currently facing famine conditions, with the rest of the territory at risk of the same fate by mid-July unless drastic changes occur. The international food security agency has issued a warning that the entire population of Gaza could be facing famine in the coming months.
Since the outbreak of war on 7 October, aid agencies and world leaders have been sounding the alarm about the risk of starvation in Gaza. They point to the lack of sufficient aid being allowed through the border, while Israel maintains that it is working to expedite the checking processes and that bottlenecks are beyond its control.
The IPC defines famine as a situation where starvation and extremely critical levels of acute malnutrition are evident. Gaza is currently in the fourth ’emergency’ phase, but North Gaza has already reached phase five, the highest level of famine. The criteria for phase five include extreme lack of food and basic needs in at least one in five households, with high levels of malnutrition and death from starvation, disease, or malnutrition.
The latest IPC report indicates that 1.1 million Gazans, half of the population, could be facing famine by mid-July, with North Gaza already meeting the criteria for phase five. The southern areas of Deir-al Balah, Khan Younis, and Rafah are currently in phase four but are expected to reach phase five by July. Overall, all 2.2 million people in Gaza are experiencing crisis-level hunger.
The situation in Gaza has been described as “man-made starvation” by the IPC, with calls for Israel to open more checkpoints to allow aid to reach those in need. The UN’s World Food Programme (WFP) is coordinating aid supplies through the Rafah and Kerem Shalom borders with Egypt and Israel, respectively.
International leaders, including Rishi Sunak and Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron, have urged Israel to take action to prevent famine in Gaza. The International Criminal Court has warned that famine is setting in, and the UN coordinator Martin Griffiths has emphasized the need for immediate intervention to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe.
Israel has faced criticism for not allowing enough aid into Gaza, leading to tragic incidents where people were killed while trying to access food deliveries. The UK has expressed impatience with the humanitarian situation in Gaza, while the US and other countries have taken steps to provide aid through alternative means.
The ICJ has issued a legally binding order for Israel to allow more aid into Gaza and has accused the country of using starvation as a weapon of war. Israel denies these accusations and emphasizes the need for thorough inspections of aid deliveries to prevent support for Hamas.
The situation in Gaza remains critical, with the risk of famine looming over the population. Immediate action is needed to prevent a humanitarian disaster in the region.