Gaza hunger crisis reaches peak
The UN has said that the official ‘famine’ situation in Gaza has ended as humanitarian aid supplies have increased. However, the agency has issued a stark warning that hunger levels and the overall humanitarian situation are still extremely critical. Most people are living in tents after their homes were destroyed in almost two years of war. One in eight people are currently suffering from acute food insecurity. Winter floods and freezing cold have made the humanitarian crisis even more unbearable. The Guardian reports.
According to the food security monitoring group IPC, although no area of Gaza is currently in the ‘famine’ category, the entire strip is under an ’emergency’ state. This is just before famine, where people are at risk of dying from food shortages.
The situation has improved slightly since the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in October, when restrictions on aid entry were eased. However, the IPC has warned that Gaza could again be hit by famine if the ceasefire breaks down. Some 1.6 million people could face severe food shortages in the next four months.
However, Israel has denied allegations of famine or aid withholding in Gaza and has called the IPC report “baseless and biased”. Meanwhile, the charity Oxfam said hunger levels were still dire and that Israeli authorities were withholding thousands of food packages at the border.
Meanwhile, millions of people are struggling in dilapidated tents, battling torrential rain and cold. Flooding has increased the risk of tents sinking and diseases spreading in unsanitary conditions. The Gaza Health Ministry said a 29-day-old baby died of hypothermia on Wednesday. The current ceasefire is fragile. Diplomatic efforts are underway, brokered by the United States, Qatar and Egypt, to reach a second phase of a deal aimed at a lasting peace.
