Israel-Hamas war: Experts warn famine possibly underway in northern Gaza
File photo of the war-ravaged Gaza Strip.
Experts warned on Tuesday (June 4) that a famine was possibly underway in the northern region of the Gaza Strip but the ongoing war between Israel and Hamasand restrictions on humanitarian access have impeded the data collection to prove it. In a report,the Famine Early Warning Systems Network, or FEWS NET, said that the famine in Gaza was possible, if not likely.
According to theIntegrated Food Security Phase Classification, an area is considered to be famine when -20 per cent of households have an extreme lack of food, or are essentially starving; at least 30 per centof the children suffer from acute malnutrition or wasting, meaning they’re too thin for their height; and two adults or four children per every 10,000 people are dying daily of hunger and its complications.
The agency's warning
The FEWS NET is an internationally recognised authority on famine that provides evidence-based and timely early warning information for food insecurity. For a formal declaration of famine, the data must be there.
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On Tuesday, the FEWS NET cautioned thatdata collection would likely be impeded as long as the war goes on. It said that people in Gaza, including children, weredying of hunger-related causes and these conditions would likelypersist until at least July if there isn’t a fundamental change in how food aid is distributed.
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In its report, the agency further cautioned that efforts to increase aid to Gaza were insufficient and urged Israel to act urgently.
The claim and the denial
Since the war between Israel and Hamas began in October last year, international agencies including the United Nations (UN) have said not enough food or other humanitarian supplies are entering Gaza.
Israel has repeatedly denied there is famine underway in Gaza and rejected allegations it has used hunger as a weapon in its war against Hamas. Israel has opened many new crossings intoGaza in recent months, saying they helped increase the flow of aid.