During a congressional hearing, United States Agency for International Development Administrator Samantha Power confirmed that famine is already occurring in parts of Gaza. This assessment aligns with the findings of the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), which indicated a dire situation in the war-torn strip.
Power emphasized the credibility of the IPC's methodology and highlighted the alarming increase in malnutrition rates, particularly in northern Gaza. Prior to October 7, the rate of malnutrition was nearly nonexistent, but it has now risen to affect one in three children.
The situation in Gaza is dire, with half of the population projected to face catastrophic hunger by mid-July. The IPC analysis from March revealed that all 2.2 million people in Gaza are struggling to access sufficient food, with a significant portion on the brink of starvation.
This acknowledgment of famine in Gaza is expected to intensify calls for the Biden administration to reconsider its military aid to Israel. US officials, including President Biden, have urged Israeli authorities to take immediate action to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza or face potential policy changes from the United States.
