UN says 70% of Gaza’s population faces Catastrophic Hunger

A dire warning emerged from a UN monitoring group on Monday, signaling famine conditions in the northern region of Gaza. With approximately 300,000 individuals trapped in the aftermath of prolonged Israeli bombardment, casualties have soared, surpassing 31,000 fatalities.

The UN-backed report paints a grim picture, highlighting that over 70% of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents face the threat of “catastrophic hunger.” The Integrated Food-Security Phase Classification (IPC) sounded the alarm, stressing that an immediate ceasefire and the delivery of essential food aid are imperative to stave off mass casualties.

Tragically, the toll of starvation has already claimed the lives of more than a dozen children, including newborns, with countless others at risk due to escalating malnutrition. Despite urgent pleas from UN aid agencies earlier in March, critical humanitarian assistance continues to be obstructed from entering the besieged Palestinian enclave.

The IPC’s assessment paints a dire scenario, projecting that without intervention, two out of every 10,000 individuals will succumb daily to starvation, malnutrition, and disease.

“The actions required to avert famine demand swift political decisions for a ceasefire, coupled with immediate and substantial increases in humanitarian and commercial access across Gaza,” the report emphasized.

Criticism has been leveled against Israel by some Western allies since retaliatory strikes were initiated following Hamas militants’ attack on Israel in October. Addressing the gravity of the situation, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell asserted, “In Gaza, we are no longer on the brink of famine. We are in a state of famine,” during a humanitarian aid conference in Brussels. Borrell further accused Israel of employing “starvation as a weapon of war.”

In response, Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz defended his country’s actions, asserting, “Israel permits extensive humanitarian aid into Gaza,” and urging Borrell to cease attacks against Israel while affirming its right to self-defense against Hamas aggression.

Efforts to broker a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel persist, yet progress remains elusive as hostilities persist. Recent clashes near Gaza’s Al-Shifa hospital complex underscore the volatile and precarious nature of the situation, with the Israeli Army engaged in combat against Hamas militants and urging civilian evacuation.