Global monitor says famine likely unfolding in north Gaza
The Famine Early Warning System Network (FEWS NET) is warning that a famine is likely unfolding in besieged northern Gaza, including in Jabalia, Beit Lahiya and Beit Hanoon, as Israel continues its near-total blockade of humanitarian and commercial food supplies to the region.
The US-created food crisis monitor also said that if Israel keeps up the blockade that it began on October 5, deaths from starvation could pass famine levels as early as next month.
FEWS NET uses a scale developed by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) to assess famine. The IPC has a five-tier classification system, with Phase 5 being the most extreme level.
“Based on the collapse of the food system and worsening access to water, sanitation, and health services in these areas […] it is highly likely that the food consumption and acute malnutrition thresholds for Famine (IPC Phase 5) have now been surpassed in North Gaza Governorate,” FEWS NET said.
“In the absence of a change to Israeli policy on the entry of food and nutrition supplies to this area, FEWS NET expects non-trauma mortality levels will pass the Famine (IPC Phase 5) threshold between January and March 2025, with at least 2-15 people dying per day.”
It says its analysis of World Food Programme (WFP) reports suggests no food entered besieged areas of the North Gaza governorate between October 2 and 31, while only 130-135 metric tonnes of food successfully entered in November.
The latter amount is estimated to cover less than 5 percent of food needs among the population that was estimated to be in North Gaza at that time, it said.
Then on December 20, an additional 80-85 metric tonnes of food reportedly reached 800 people in Beit Hanoun, it said.
FEWS NET, citing UN estimates, says some 10,000 to 15,000 people are thought to remain trapped in northern Gaza.
US envoy rejects FEWS NET’s warning of famine in north Gaza
Jacob Lew, the US ambassador to Israel, dismissed the report, saying FEWS NET relied on data that is “outdated and inaccurate”.
He said in a statement that FEWS NET’s assessment assumes there are between 65,000 to 75,000 people remaining in north Gaza. But that Israeli and UN estimates show the figure is in the range of 7,000 to 15,000.
“At a time when inaccurate information is causing confusion and accusations, it is irresponsible to issue a report like this,” Lew said.
FEWS NET, which was created by the US government, uses a scale developed by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) to assess famine. The IPC has a five-tier classification system, with Phase 5 as the most extreme level.
For a Phase 5 declaration, at least 20 percent of households in an area have to be experiencing famine conditions, acute malnutrition has to exceed 30 percent and there have to be more than two deaths per 10,000 people.
FEWS NET, in its latest assessment, said “it is highly likely that the food consumption and acute malnutrition thresholds for Famine (IPC Phase 5) have now been surpassed in North Gaza Governorate”. It also warned that deaths from starvation could pass famine levels as early as next month if Israel keeps up its near total blockade of the region.
Ahh to solve a food crisis, kill and displace more people...
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