Famine is now officially confirmed for more than 500,000 people in Gaza, with widespread starvation expected to intensify in the coming weeks, according to a new report from the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) published on Friday. The analysis warns famine conditions will expand rapidly beyond Gaza City to Deir Al Balah and Khan Younis in a matter of weeks.
The report states that by the end of next month, more than 640,000 people will face “catastrophic levels of food insecurity.”
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“The time for debate and hesitation has passed, starvation is present and is rapidly spreading. There should be no doubt in anyone’s mind that an immediate, at-scale response is needed,” the report asserts.
What makes it a famine
The IPC designation of famine occurs when the situation meets three key thresholds. Those include “extreme food deprivation, acute malnutrition, and starvation-related deaths.”
Officials caution the famine may be more widespread than the figures in the report. Officials said that is because it didn’t account for scarcely populated areas like Rafah, where the war displaced most of the population.
‘Entirely man-made’ crisis
The IPC report warns that “hunger and malnutrition are claiming lives every day.” The organization blames the destruction of critical infrastructure, agricultural lands and food processing facilities that is “entirely man-made” amid bombings and military operations. The report said because the famine is man-made, it “can be halted and reversed” through an end to the conflict and the unimpeded flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza.
After months of an aid embargo, Israel recently agreed to allow some aid into the region, but officials argue the food and medicine trickling in is not enough.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has long argued widespread starvation is not occurring in Gaza but acknowledged concerns from allies led him to allow for a minimal flow of aid into the enclave.
In May, the U.S. and Israel backed the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) to lead aid operations. But the group has been marred by controversy after dozens of deaths near aid sites by Israeli troops accused of opening fire on those seeking aid.
Israeli government disputes findings
The Israeli Ministry of Defense unit in charge of overseeing humanitarian efforts and civilian policies in Gaza and the West Bank denied the IPC reports findings.
“The Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) firmly rejects the findings of the latest IPC report published on August 22, specifically the claim of famine in Gaza City,” Israeli officials said.
In its eight-page rebuttal, it accused the IPC report of relying “on partial, biased data and superficial information originating from Hamas.”
UN calls for ceasefire
The United Nations warns that “famine must be stopped at all costs” and said “an immediate ceasefire and an end to the conflict is critical to allow unimpeded, large-scale humanitarian response that can save lives.”
The U.N. has also raised concerns about Israel’s latest offensive in Gaza City and any attempts to escalate the war, warning of “further devastating consequences for civilians, where famine conditions already exist.” The agency said it has the stockpiles of aid to alleviate the crisis — what’s missing, they said, is the political will to let it reach people in need.
