Famine looms in northern Gaza: UN-backed report

The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) report classified it as IPC Phase 5 – a situation when “starvation, death, poverty and extremely severe acute malnutrition levels are evident”. Photo courtesy: AFP

Famine is looming in the northern Gaza Strip amid escalating hostilities and a near halt in food aid, a UN-backed assessment said on Saturday (November 10, 2024).

The Famine Review Committee’s alert warned of “an imminent and substantial possibility of famine due to the rapidly deteriorating situation in the Gaza Strip”.

“Famine thresholds have probably already been exceeded or will be in the near future,” the warning said.

On 17 October, the body estimated that the number of people facing “catastrophic” food insecurity in Gaza would reach 345,000, or 16% of the population, between November and April 2025.

The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) report classified it as IPC Phase 5 – a situation when “starvation, death, poverty and extremely severe acute malnutrition levels are evident.”

“Since that report, conditions in the north of Gaza have worsened, with the collapse of food systems, a decline in humanitarian assistance, and critical water, sanitation and hygiene conditions,” the committee said.

It reads, “It can therefore be assumed that starvation, malnutrition and excess mortality due to malnutrition and disease are increasing rapidly in these areas.”

Vast areas of the Gaza Strip have been devastated by Israel’s counter-offensive following an attack by Hamas on October 7 last year.

Israeli forces have intensified their operations in large parts of the north of the Gaza Strip since early October, where evacuation orders remain in place.

“The number of aid shipments allowed to enter the Gaza Strip was lower than at any time since October 2023,” the report said.

“Access to food continues to deteriorate due to rising prices of essential commodities on the black market. There was an increase of 2,612% in LPG, 1,315% in diesel and 250% increase in wood.

“With extremely high and rising prices of essential commodities, livelihoods that enable us to purchase or barter for food and other basic needs have completely collapsed,” the alert said.

The organization expressed concern over Israel’s severing of ties with the United Nations Assistance Agency for Palestine (UNRWA) last month and warned of “extremely serious consequences for humanitarian operations” in Gaza.