United Nations agencies have issued a stark warning that over 1 million Palestinians in Gaza are at risk of experiencing the highest level of starvation by the middle of next month if hostilities persist. The World Food Program and the Food and Agriculture Organization highlighted in a joint report that hunger is intensifying due to severe restrictions on humanitarian access and the breakdown of the local food system during the nearly eight-month Israel-Hamas conflict.
The report emphasized the dire situation in northern Gaza, which has been encircled and largely cut off by Israeli forces for an extended period. While Israel recently opened some land crossings in the north, the limited capacity to facilitate aid deliveries remains a significant challenge for the hundreds of thousands of people in need.
Furthermore, the incursion into Rafah by Israeli forces has severely disrupted aid operations in the southern part of Gaza. Egypt's refusal to open the Rafah crossing has led to aid being redirected to Israel's Kerem Shalom crossing nearby, adding to the logistical hurdles faced by humanitarian agencies.
The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification had previously reported that around 677,000 people in Gaza were already experiencing Phase 5 hunger, equivalent to famine. The latest assessment by the U.N. agencies now suggests that this figure could surpass 1 million individuals, representing nearly half of Gaza's total population, by the middle of the upcoming month.
The report underscored the urgent need for a cessation of hostilities and increased humanitarian access to prevent a further deterioration in the situation. The ongoing fighting, breakdown of law and order, and Israeli restrictions have severely hampered aid distribution within Gaza, exacerbating the crisis.
Experts from the Famine Early Warning Systems Network have raised concerns that famine may already be underway in northern Gaza, although data collection has been impeded by the conflict and access restrictions. The potential for famine is a grave indication of the severity of the humanitarian crisis unfolding in the region.
The conflict, which began with incursions by Hamas and other militants into Israel, has resulted in significant casualties and displacement. The toll on civilians has been immense, with widespread destruction and a staggering number of people forced to flee their homes multiple times.
The situation in Gaza remains critical, with the looming threat of famine adding to the already dire humanitarian conditions. Immediate action is needed to avert a catastrophic outcome for the people of Gaza.
For more updates on the Israel-Hamas conflict, visit AP's war coverage.
