By Anjali Sharma
UNITED NATIONS – The global IPC food security initiative revealed figures on Thursday stated that over 1.8 million Palestinians in Gaza are experiencing “extremely critical” levels of hunger, with 70 per cent of crop fields destroyed and livelihoods decimated during the ongoing Israeli military stand off
The figures from the global IPC food security initiative showed that 133,000 people or 6 per cent of the enclave’s population – are already experiencing Phase 5 or “catastrophic” food insecurity.
It said that the number could rise to around 345,000 people or 16 per cent of the entire population – between the winter months of November and April next year.
“The risk of famine persists across the whole Gaza Strip. Given the recent surge in hostilities, there are growing concerns that this worst-case scenario may materialize,” the assessment noted.
UN deputy spokesman Farhan Haq in New York head said that SG Antonio Guterres voiced alarm by the IPC report’s findings after high displacement and restrictions on humanitarian aid flows.
“One year into the conflict, famine looms. This is intolerable,” Mr. Haq said.
Mr. Guterres called on Israel to immediately reopen all crossing points, he added.
Mr. Haq emphasized bureaucratic impediments must be removed, and law and order must be restored inside Gaza so that UN agencies can deliver lifesaving humanitarian assistance.
The IPC assessment stressed that only through widespread access to adequate food, medical supplies, water, and basic services across the Gaza Strip, can the risk of a rapid descent into famine be contained.
It called for an immediate, unconditional and sustained ceasefire, restoration of food systems, and better prevention and management of rising and acute malnutrition.
IPC reiterated that blanket supplementary feeding programmes and infant and young child feeding programmes need to be bolstered, including promotion of breastfeeding and care for non-breastfed infants.
UN agencies are assisting all Gazans despite severe challenges, including insecurity, access difficulty, and ongoing evacuation orders and fighting.
FAO has prioritized reactivating local food production and restoring the availability of highly nutritious food, as the winter season approaches.
People in Gaza saw hunger and malnutrition during the winter.
Beth Bechdol, the agency’s Deputy Director-General said “To curb acute hunger and malnutrition, we must act now – immediately cease hostilities, restore humanitarian access to deliver critical and essential food aid and agricultural inputs in time for the upcoming winter crop planting season which has already started – to allow them to grow food” .
“Humanitarian aid alone is not enough. People need fresh, nutritious food. To make a difference, we also need to support farmers to continue and restart the production of food, as well as the flow of imported food and non-food items,” she added.
FAO voiced “deep concern” over significant losses of livestock, which are indispensable for the livelihoods and basic survival of Gaza’s population.
The agency has set up a programme to safeguard some 30,000 sheep and goats represented 40 per cent of the remaining livestock.
It has distributed fodder to over 4,400 livestock holders in Rafah, Khan Younis and Deir al-Balah, and veterinary kits to about 2,400 herder families as of end off September.
FAO said that it will deliver more essential supplies, including additional fodder, greenhouse plastic sheets, plastic water tanks, vaccines, energy blocks and animal shelters, once access, security, and mobility conditions are restored.
“By nourishing these animals, enough milk can be provided for all of Gaza’s children,” it added.
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