“Famine looms” in Gaza as Israel continues genocide war: UN-backed assessment
Gaza (Quds News Network)- The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) said around 1.84 million people across Gaza are living through high levels of acute food insecurity, including 133,000 people who are suffering “catastrophic” food insecurity.
In a new UN-backed assessment published on Thursday, the IPC, which conducted its new analysis between 30 September 30 and 4 October, is expecting the number of people experiencing catastrophic hunger to nearly triple in the coming months.
“Between November 2024 and April 2025, almost two million people, more than 90 percent of the population, are classified in IPC Phase 3 (Crisis) or above, of which 345,000 people (16 percent) are in Catastrophe (IPC Phase 5), and 876,000 people (41 percent) in Emergency (IPC Phase 4),” the IPC said.
The IPC classifies the most extreme warning as Phase 5, which has two levels, catastrophe and famine.
An estimated 60,000 cases of acute malnutrition among young children were expected between September 2024 and August 2025, it added.
In December, the IPC reported that the percentage of families in Gaza experiencing severe acute food insecurity is the highest ever documented worldwide, outranking Afghanistan and Sudan.
UN human rights chief Volker Turk described the assessment as “beyond terrifying”.
“This crisis is principally the consequence of decisions made by the Israeli authorities. It is in their power to change the situation – urgently,” he said, adding that the starvation of civilians as a method of warfare constitutes a war crime.
While the entry of food aid had increased since May, the IPC said, humanitarian access began shrinking again in September.
Israel has also stopped processing requests from traders to import food to Gaza, choking off a crucial source of provisions, Reuters reported on Thursday.
“The risk of famine persists across the whole Gaza Strip. Given the recent surge in hostilities, there are growing concerns that this worst-case scenario may materialize,” the IPC said.
The monitoring body expects Rafah and northern Gaza to likely face more severe acute food insecurity.
On 6 October, Israel launched a major offensive on northern Gaza and ordered residents to flee south.
The Israeli military is now implementing the “Generals’ Plan,” which involves ethnically cleansing the northern Gaza Strip of its Palestinian population; and then besieging the region, including stopping the entry of humanitarian supplies, to starve out anyone left, including Palestinian fighters.
An estimated 400,000 Palestinians remain in the northern Gaza Strip. Most of them are sheltering in areas that the army has ordered them to leave and head for the heavily overcrowded al-Mawasi humanitarian zone in the south.
One of the focuses of the military campaign is the Jabalia refugee camp, which has been under Israeli siege and assault that has lasted over 10 days.
Since the start of the operation, Israeli forces have killed at least 400 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Government Media Office.
The World Food Programme (WFP) announced last week that food security in northern Gaza is at risk, as no food aid has entered the area since 1 October.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he was alarmed by the IPC analysis.
“Famine looms. This is intolerable. Crossing points must open immediately, bureaucratic impediments must be removed, and law and order restored so UN agencies can deliver lifesaving humanitarian assistance,” he wrote on X.
Alarmed by today’s IPC report findings that high displacement and restrictions on humanitarian aid flows mean people in Gaza are facing catastrophic levels of hunger.
Famine looms. This is intolerable.
Crossing points must open immediately, bureaucratic impediments must be…— António Guterres (@antonioguterres) October 17, 2024
