Israel-Hamas conflict: Mavens say there is ‘major possibility’ of famine in Gaza

KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip (AP) — An influx of backup has eased the famine crisis in northern Gaza for now, although all dimensions remain at “high risk” of famine, following the Israeli offensive in Rafah that caused displacement and disruption. Happened. Backup operations in the south, mentioned in a draft document on Monday.

The global authority’s document on the severity of the hunger crisis said almost everyone in Gaza is struggling to access abundant food and that more than 495,000 families, or more than a fifth of the population of 2.3 million, do not enjoy it. Expected to take. Highest degree of hunger in the coming months.

This comes despite months of US pressure on Israel to make additional efforts to facilitate backup efforts, including the installation of a US$230 million American-built pier. is beset with issues And backup companies say frequent airdrops from some international locations are inadequate to meet needs.

On October 7, Israel attacked Gaza following a Hamas offensive in which Palestinian militants killed about 1,200 families, mostly civilians, and abducted about 250. More than 37,000 Palestinians have been killed in the war, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which does not. Don’t say how many civilians or warring parties there were.

Israel imposed a full-scale siege at the beginning of the war and gradually reduced it under pressure from Washington. The conflict has destroyed much of Gaza’s capacity to produce its own food.

The untested findings come from the Integrated Food Security Section Classification, or IPC, an initiative first established during the famine in Somalia in 2004 that now includes multiple UN services, backup groups, governments and alternative bodies. The Associated Press purchased a draft of his untouched document, the overall model of which is set to be released Tuesday.

in its closing documentIn March, the IPC noted that famine was “imminent” in northern Gaza, which has caused widespread devastation and which Israeli troops have besieged and largely liberated since the early days of the offensive. That document said about a third of Gazans were experiencing level 5 hunger – the highest level of hunger.

again in april Seven backup workers killed by Israeli moves And as global outrage spread, Israel promised to step up backup, and then it opened alternative land crossings into the north. The IPC noted a “rapid increase” in the volume of food distribution in the north.

However, in early May, Israel launched field operations in the southernmost city of Rafah, closing the Rafah crossing with Egypt and repeatedly disrupting the Kerem Shalom crossing with Israel. Air and Field Operations Extra More than one million families displaced, most of whom had already fled their property before the war. Many people have actually been crammed into dirty tent camps, where they are at increased risk of contracting the disease, which the IPC said could lead to starvation.

“The humanitarian assistance sector in the Gaza Strip continues to shrink and the capacity to safely deliver assistance to the population is declining,” the draft document noted. “The recent trajectory is negative and highly volatile. Should this continue, the improvements seen in April could be rapidly reversed.

Young people, especially those with underlying medical conditions, are particularly susceptible.

Manal Nayef of Rafah has made several trips to the health center since her son Karam was born underweight about three months ago. During the conversation before this presentation, he was lying with an IV drip in his hand, his lips seeking a breast but only sucking air.

“As a mother, I was not well nurtured,” his mother said. “And it’s getting worse because she needs a special formula, and that’s not available. He looks small compared to other children.”

A remote team of professionals warned earlier It can be imagined that famine is already underway In northern Gaza. The Famine Early Ultimatum Programs Network, or FEWS NET, said ongoing conflict and restrictions on humanitarian access have hindered data collection from completing it.

Level 5 hunger is similar to famine, although the IPC only declares an entire segment as famine when 20% of households have extreme food shortages, 30% of children suffer from severe malnutrition and at least two adults or four Have children. 10,000 families die every day.

Israel says it allows many trucks to enter from certain crossings on an almost daily basis and blames UN companies for not delivering it, declaring that Gaza’s main shipment terminal Kerem Shalom Boxes are piling up.

UN companies and backup teams say they are often unable to gain access to Kerem Shalom due to fighting in the area and that Israeli sanctions, difficulties coordinating with the military, and a breakdown in law and order greatly hinder their work. . He says that it is unthinkable to deal with this disaster without a complete ceasefire.

America has mobilized global support behind this A proposal This would entail the release of additional hostages and a permanent ceasefire, but neither Israel nor Hamas has fully adopted it.

Jeremy Konandik, president of Refugee World and former head of the US Company for World Building, noted in the IPC document presentations that the situation remains critical despite US and global pressure on Israel to force massive amounts of backup.

He said, “All that was achieved was tantamount to turning imminent famine into high risk of famine.” “And that means there is still not unfettered aid access, unfettered aid delivery as required by international law.”

He said that if backup flows are disrupted again, as they were during the ongoing Rafah operation, “all that progress, however modest and inadequate, will be lost again.”

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Sam Mednick reported from Juba, South Sudan. Sarah El Deeb contributed to this document from Beirut.

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