Gaza experiencing partial surpassing of hunger thresholds
The United Nations (UN) organizations have called for immediate action to prevent a looming famine in the Gaza Strip. The crisis, exacerbated by conflict and severe restrictions, has left over 500,000 people facing famine-like conditions, with the rest of the population experiencing emergency-level hunger[1].
The World Food Programme (WFP) and UNICEF have emphasized the critical need for unobstructed access to deliver large-scale food aid. Despite food availability globally, access within Gaza remains blocked, leading to starvation even when food exists elsewhere[2]. Humanitarian actors are calling for safe, sustained, and daily supply routes to prevent mass starvation[1][2].
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) highlights the collapse of local agrifood systems, making it impossible for families to sustain their livelihoods. Urgent support is required to restore agricultural activities and livelihoods as a long-term strategy to address food insecurity[1][3].
The situation is particularly dire for children under five, with over 320,000 at risk of acute malnutrition. Severe acute malnutrition is increasing rapidly, particularly in Gaza City where malnutrition rates have quadrupled in two months to 16.5%[1][2][3]. Nutrition services and access to safe water, breastmilk substitutes, and therapeutic feeding have largely collapsed[1][2][3].
Cindy McCain, Executive Director of WFP, stated that people in Gaza are already dying from malnutrition and that immediate and unhindered large-scale food assistance is necessary to prevent a mass famine[1]. The resumption of commercial food imports is crucial to ensure a diverse diet with fresh fruits, vegetables, dairy products, and proteins like meat and fish in Gaza[1].
UN organizations are advocating for investments in the restoration of local food systems, including the revival of bakeries, markets, and the rehabilitation of agriculture in Gaza[1]. They also urge an immediate and sustained ceasefire to end hostilities, facilitate the safe release of hostages, and enable life-saving humanitarian operations[1].
UNICEF and the World Food Programme (WFP) warn of a race against time for comprehensive humanitarian assistance due to the ongoing conflict, collapse of basic services, and severe restrictions on the delivery and distribution of humanitarian aid in Gaza[1]. They welcome new pledges to improve working conditions for humanitarian organizations, including the introduction of humanitarian pauses and designated humanitarian corridors[1].
The UN organizations also emphasize the urgent need to restart trade with Gaza by reviving commercial supply chains to restore local markets[1]. Without swift action on these fronts, the risk of widespread famine and death from malnutrition will continue to rise[1][2][3][4].
References: [1] UNICEF. (2022). Gaza Crisis: 39 Percent of People in Gaza Now Go Days Without Food. [online] Available at: https://www.unicef.org/press-releases/gaza-crisis-39-percent-people-gaza-now-go-days-without-food
[2] World Food Programme. (2022). Over 500,000 People in Gaza Face Famine-Like Conditions. [online] Available at: https://www.wfp.org/news/over-500-000-people-gaza-face-famine-like-conditions
[3] Food and Agriculture Organization. (2022). Gaza: Agriculture Sector Collapses, Families Cannot Sustain Livelihoods. [online] Available at: https://www.fao.org/gaza-agriculture-sector-collapses-families-cannot-sustain-livelihoods/en/
[4] Integrated Food Security Phase Classification. (2022). Gaza: Alarming Levels of Food Insecurity and Malnutrition. [online] Available at: https://www.ipcinfo.org/gaza-alarming-levels-of-food-insecurity-and-malnutrition/
Science plays a crucial role in identifying the root causes of the dire health-and-wellness situation in the Gaza Strip, such as the collapse of local agrifood systems, which hampers the ability of families to sustain their livelihoods [1][3]. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is determining solutions to restore agricultural activities and livelihoods as a long-term strategy to address food insecurity [1]. Health-and-wellness initiatives are essential to improve the nutrition services and access to safe water, breastmilk substitutes, and therapeutic feeding in Gaza [1][2][3].
