The Gaza Strip Faces Looming Threat of Famine as Israel-Hamas War Continues
The population of the Gaza Strip is at an increasing risk of famine as the Israel-Hamas war continues, according to the UN’s World Food Programme (WFP). The situation in Gaza is deteriorating rapidly, with a looming threat of famine, warns Abeer Etefa, the WFP’s senior Middle East spokeswoman.
A recent study conducted between November 24 and December 7 revealed that all 2.2 million people in the Palestinian territory were experiencing a crisis level of food insecurity. Since then, the situation has worsened, with over half a million people facing catastrophic food insecurity levels and the risk of famine increasing each day.
Etefa highlights the severity of the situation, stating that even in conflict-ridden areas like Syria, Yemen, and Sudan, they have not witnessed such high levels of food insecurity in such a short period of time. Gaza now has the largest concentration of people in famine-like conditions anywhere in the world.
The Gaza war began with Hamas’s unprecedented attacks on October 7, resulting in the deaths of approximately 1,140 people in Israel, mostly civilians. In response, Israel launched a relentless offensive that has claimed the lives of at least 25,490 people in Gaza, with around 70 percent of them being women, children, and adolescents.
The WFP has been facing significant challenges in delivering food aid to northern Gaza. Approximately 70 percent of their requests to deliver food have been rejected by Israeli authorities. The limited deliveries that have been made are insufficient to meet the growing needs of the population. This has led to increased desperation among the people as they have no idea when the next truckload of food will arrive.
The UN’s humanitarian agency, OCHA, reported that in the first two weeks of January, only seven out of 29 planned missions to deliver life-saving supplies to northern Gaza were permitted by Israeli authorities. This systematic limitation, coupled with a communications blackout in Gaza, has hindered the distribution of food.
Despite the challenges, the WFP has managed to send over 24,000 tons of food into Gaza since October 7. In January alone, they have delivered over 13,000 tons of food. Additionally, they have 21,000 tons of food supplies in neighboring Egypt, en route to Gaza, or already on trucks at the border. This amount is sufficient to feed the two million people in Gaza for one month.
The situation is dire not only in terms of food insecurity but also in terms of healthcare. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that hospitals in Gaza are facing severe fuel shortages, hindering their ability to provide essential medical services. Christian Lindmeier, a WHO spokesman, describes the desperate scenes inside hospitals, with people begging for water and food while waiting for surgery.
The international community must urgently address the escalating humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Immediate action is needed to ensure the delivery of food aid and essential medical supplies to the population. The ongoing conflict must be resolved through peaceful means to prevent further suffering and loss of life.
In conclusion, the population of the Gaza Strip is facing a looming threat of famine as the Israel-Hamas war continues. The situation is rapidly deteriorating, with over half a million people at catastrophic food insecurity levels. The international community must take immediate action to address this crisis and ensure the delivery of food aid and essential medical supplies to Gaza.