‘Looming catastrophe’: Experts warn of high risk of famine in northern Gaza
2024-11-08 12:00
By UNRWA
Gaza City, occupied Palestinian territory – The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) today warned of a high risk of famine in northern Gaza, where over 1 million Palestine refugees live in extreme poverty and food insecurity.
A new report by UNRWA, “Looming catastrophe: The risk of famine in northern Gaza,” found that the situation in the area is rapidly deteriorating due to a combination of factors, including the ongoing Israeli blockade, high unemployment, and a lack of access to basic services.
“The situation in northern Gaza is dire,” said Matthias Schmale, UNRWA’s Director of Operations in Gaza. “We are seeing a sharp increase in the number of people who are going hungry, and we are warning that we could be facing a famine if urgent action is not taken.”
The report found that over 50% of the population in northern Gaza is food insecure, and that this number is increasing rapidly. The report also found that the average daily calorie intake in northern Gaza has fallen below 2,000 calories, which is the minimum required for a healthy diet.
“We are seeing people who are eating less and less, and who are increasingly reliant on humanitarian aid,” said Schmale. “We are also seeing people who are selling their belongings to buy food, and who are taking on debt to feed their families.”
The Israeli blockade of Gaza has had a devastating impact on the economy of the territory, and has made it difficult for people to access food, medicine, and other essential items. The blockade has also restricted the movement of people and goods in and out of Gaza, which has made it difficult for UNRWA and other humanitarian organizations to provide assistance to those in need.
“The Israeli blockade is a major factor in the humanitarian crisis in Gaza,” said Schmale. “It is preventing people from accessing food, medicine, and other essential items, and it is making it difficult for us to provide assistance to those in need.”
UNRWA is calling for the immediate lifting of the Israeli blockade of Gaza, and for increased international support to help the people of Gaza. The agency is also calling for increased funding for its emergency food assistance program, which provides food to over 1 million Palestine refugees in Gaza.
“We are doing everything we can to help the people of Gaza, but we need more support from the international community,” said Schmale. “We need the Israeli blockade to be lifted, and we need more funding for our emergency food assistance program. We cannot allow a famine to happen in Gaza.”
‘Looming catastrophe’: Experts warn of high risk of famine in northern Gaza
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