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There remains a high probability of famine in Gaza and the situation “remains catastrophic” as conflict between Israel and Hamas continues, according to a document exempted on Tuesday through the Integrated Food Security Protection Classification (IPC).
“As long as the conflict continues and humanitarian access is restricted, the entire Gaza Strip remains at high risk of famine,” the document noted. “Only a cessation of hostilities coupled with continued humanitarian access to the entire Gaza Strip can reduce the risk of famine in the Gaza Strip.”
The document estimates that 96% of Gaza’s population – a community of more than 2 million – will face disaster, disaster, or lack of confidence in lethal levels of food until at least the end of September. Nearly one million people are estimated to have reached the fatality level, the most catastrophic level on the IPC scale where communities experience “extreme food shortages, starvation and reduced coping abilities.”
“Given the unpredictability of the ongoing conflict and humanitarian access challenges, any significant changes could rapidly worsen the famine situation,” the document notes.
“The past few months have demonstrated that food and humanitarian access and the prevalence of malnutrition can change very rapidly, increasing the risk of pandemics and eight months of extreme pressure on the lives of populations making them more vulnerable to famine. gives.” Document compiled through the Famine Assessment Committee of the IPC.
The document’s findings echo the testimony of people present in the fields regarding the horrific humanitarian disaster in Gaza. Israel’s nearly nine-month bombardment and siege has destroyed the healthcare system, destroyed H2O infrastructure and created dire conditions for the entire community of more than 2.2 million.
Israeli attacks on the southern city of Rafah have led to mass displacement and outbreaks of infectious diseases in vast tent camps, where communities lack access to basic sanitation. Without concrete signs of an imminent ceasefire to put a stop to the fighting, happiness activists say the suffering of civilians in the fields will only get worse.
The document is impressive in its “exclusive snapshot,” the latest data shows that, to be able to buy food, more than half of households had to exchange their clothes for money and a third had to pick up trash to sell. Was.” “More than half also reported that, often, they had no food to eat at home, and more than 20 percent spent entire days and nights without eating.”
The document said there have been some improvements in the situation in the north of Gaza, where the IPC warned in March that famine was approaching. Tuesday’s document assessed that despite an increase in food distribution in March and April, “available evidence does not indicate that famine is currently occurring within the North”. On the other hand, it notes accidental remains throughout the Gaza Strip.
Even though there were some developments in the south of Gaza on that date, the document said, the situation worsened with the foundation of Israel’s military operations in Rafah. The Rafah crossing – a major transit route for humanitarian aid to Gaza – has been closed since the beginning of May, and only a few alternative land crossings are accessible. Humanitarian aid workers continue to take enormous risks in their pursuit of delivering desperately needed aid to Gaza. Israel’s conflict against Hamas has destroyed almost all infrastructure to support humanitarian operations in Gaza.
“The humanitarian sector in the Gaza Strip is shrinking and the capacity to safely deliver aid to the population is declining,” the document notes in a special snapshot. “The recent trajectory is negative and highly volatile. Should this continue, the improvements seen in April could be rapidly reversed.
The document additionally “encourages all stakeholders who use the IPC to make high-level decisions to understand that whether or not a famine classification is confirmed does not in any way change the fact that That immense humanitarian suffering undoubtedly continues in the Gaza Strip.”
“This does not alter the urgent humanitarian imperative to address this civilian suffering by enabling full, safe, unimpeded and sustained humanitarian access, including through a cessation of hostilities in and throughout the Gaza Strip,” the document said.
The US, Israel’s closest ally, has repeatedly asked the Netanyahu government to take additional steps to deal with the humanitarian disaster in Gaza. US President Joe Biden warned in early April that Israel needed to take immediate concrete steps or face the possibility of a change in US policy. Until now, such misadjustments in coverage have occurred.
“We’ve seen them take steps that have been productive,” said Matthew Miller, a spokesman for the environment branch. “When we see reports from humanitarian groups, let’s say, the IPC which releases reports from time to time, we will look at them. And if there are things that need to change, we will not hesitate to talk directly with Israel about how to make those changes. But we have seen an improvement in the aid situation in the North, and we have seen somewhat of a stagnation in the South. “And that’s what we want to see reverse.”
Meanwhile, humanitarian workers have given an ultimatum that the situation in Gaza is unstable.
“In the north, when we warned of famine, we were able to bring in some more trucks. And so for now, it’s better. Not great – I don’t want to give the false impression that this is all useless, because it’s not,” said Cindy McCain, International Food Program director. “There is still a lot of need in the North, and it is complex. This is why it is complicated. It’s not just food they need. They need water, they need sanitation, they need health care. All these things contribute to famine.
“I think we’re going to very quickly get back to what we were seeing in the north,” one humanitarian leader advised CNN. The scale would be huge as there would be 300,000 people in northern Gaza, give or take. Now 1.5 to 18 lakh people are on such boats in the south central areas.
“No amount of mobs should go through those hardships,” said Kate Phillips-Barrasso of Pardon Corps. The death toll from military action has been extremely high, and we fear that without a dramatic change in the availability of humanitarian assistance, the death toll will rise as communities suffer months of deprivation.
“The humanitarian situation is rapidly deteriorating and Gaza is at risk of famine,” Phillips-Barrasso told CNN. “Despite some assistance having been received, glaring contradictions remain. Commercial trucks are allowed through, yet humanitarian aid is limited, checked at the border, and, when allowed to cross, generally only reach a few city centers without proper protection.
“Excruciating heat, lack of access to clean water and increased exposure to garbage and sewage have compounded the suffering. This lethal equation will undoubtedly lead to severe suffering and mortality,” she said.
On Friday, the Commissioner-General of the United Nations Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), Philippe Lazzarini, suggested an “uninterrupted, regular, coordinated and meaningful flow of humanitarian assistance”.
This story is up to date.
CNN’s Sana Noor Haq contributed to this document.
