Israel has raised concerns over the accuracy of a United Nations-backed report on famine in northern Gaza and has accused Hamas of controlling aid distribution in the region.
The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), a collaborative effort involving UN bodies and major relief agencies, recently released a report indicating that 2.2 million people in Gaza are facing food insecurity. The report warned that half of the population is on the verge of starvation, with famine projected to hit the north of Gaza between mid-March and May 2024.
Israel's Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT), responsible for managing access to Gaza, disputed the findings of the IPC report. COGAT stated that the report contains factual and methodological errors, citing challenges in gathering accurate data due to the ongoing conflict in the region.
According to COGAT, the reliance on data provided by local entities like Gaza's Ministry of Health has raised concerns about the accuracy of the information presented in the report. COGAT suggested that these local bodies may have a vested interest in presenting misleading data.
Israel's response to the IPC report highlights the complexities of assessing humanitarian situations in conflict zones. The differing perspectives on the extent of food insecurity in Gaza underscore the challenges in providing aid effectively and transparently in such environments.
