UN to Declare Famine in Gaza Affecting 500,000 Residents
The United Nations is poised to officially declare famine in Gaza for the first time, impacting over 500,000 residents amid ongoing conflict, reports 24brussels.
The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), a UN-backed system for assessing food insecurity and malnutrition worldwide, will make the announcement on Friday. The declaration will encompass Gaza City, three surrounding towns, and several refugee camps. Historically, the IPC has declared famine only four times since its inception in 2004, with the last such declaration made in Sudan in 2024.
Despite warnings from the UN about the imminent risk of famine in Gaza, officials had hesitated to issue an official declaration due to insufficient data. However, the upcoming announcement will formally address the catastrophic conditions facing the “Gaza governorate.”
“After 22 months of relentless conflict, over half a million people in the Gaza Strip face catastrophic conditions, marked by hunger, misery, and death,” stated the UN report.
The declaration is expected to elicit strong responses from Israel, which has consistently dismissed claims of famine in Gaza and reportedly plans to annex the territory, according to reports from The Telegraph.
For an official famine declaration, the IPC stipulates that three strict criteria must be met: at least 20% of households must experience extreme food shortages; at least 30% of children must suffer acute malnutrition; and there must be a mortality rate of two deaths per 10,000 people daily due to “absolute starvation.”
Since the outbreak of the conflict, Israeli military actions have reportedly resulted in the deaths of nearly 62,122 Palestinians, with an additional 156,758 injured, the majority of whom are women and children.
The impending famine declaration underscores the dire humanitarian crisis in Gaza and is likely to intensify international scrutiny concerning the ongoing conflict and its implications for civilians.
