Gaza is OFFICIALLY in famine, UN-backed body declares. It's only the 5th ever famine since IPC's inception
&imwidth=600&imheight=450&format=webp&quality=medium "Gaza is OFFICIALLY in famine, UN-backed body declares. It's only the 5th ever famine since IPC's inception")
Palestinian children wait to receive a hot meal at a charity kitchen in the Mawasi area of Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip Photograph: (AFP)
According to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), by the end of September the situation could turn even more grim as the famine could spread to other areas.
The war between Israel and Hamas has led to large scale destruction in Gaza, including the loss of thousands of lives. And the territory is experiencing severe food shortage due to the conflict. According to an estimate more than half a million residents are facing dire conditions due to food deprivation and mortality.
Famine declared in Gaza
The United Nation has on a number of occasions said there is a famine-like situation in Gaza and has urged both sides to halt war. However, for the first time the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), a UN-supported entity tasked with assessing global hunger, officially declared a famine in Gaza City on Friday.
According to IPC, by the end of September the situation could turn even more grim as the famine could spread to other areas, affecting approximately 1.07 million people, who are already facing acute food shortage.
Criteria to declare famine
In order to declare a famine the IPC says, at least 20% of households must experience extreme food scarcity, 30% of children must suffer from acute malnutrition, and a minimum of two people per 10,000 must die daily of hunger.
Trending Stories
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
)
)
)
)
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
)
)
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
)
)
The UN backed entity has declared just four famines since being established in 2004. The most recent declaration of a famine by IPC was in Sudan last year.
This has come amid Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu intensifying the war in Gaza City, where approximately 500,000 people live.
Netanyahu has denied starvation claims
Benjamin Netanyahu has in the past denied accusations that his government is starving Gaza’s civilian population, saying that only hostages held by Hamas are being deliberately deprived of food.
Also Read: Drone attack on police helicopter in Colombia, 12 officers killed; incident caught on camera
Speaking at a press conference in early August, Netanyahu claimed the media had relied on Hamas-provided figures and “distorted” the reality on the ground. He blamed Hamas for the crisis, accusing the group of stealing aid intended for civilians.
