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The famine in Gaza should have stopped the war between Israel and Hamas. Photo/AP
GAZA – The famine that has long been warned about in Gaza as a result of the Israeli war seems to be increasingly becoming a reality.
A report from the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) released last week warned of impending famine in Northern Gaza, and a severe food crisis is expected to spread across the region in mid-March to May.
Around 210,000 people in northern Gaza face disaster conditions, categorized as IPC Phase 5, which is the most severe level.
Overall, this phase could impact 1.1 million people, half of Gaza's population, if the conflict continues. As a result, with 20% of the population facing extreme food shortages, two out of every 10,000 people could die every day from starvation or other related causes.
Will the Famine in Gaza End the War between Israel and Hamas?
1. Dozens of Children Have Died of Starvation
Photo/AP
But Gaza has seen its first famine victims. Gaza's Health Ministry said that at least 27 children had died from malnutrition and dehydration, and the actual death toll from starvation was likely much higher and expected to continue to rise.
Four in 10,000 children per day could die from starvation or the interaction of malnutrition and disease.
This crisis was unexpected. UN agencies have long warned of this as Gaza already grapples with food insecurity.
Before Hamas' attack on Israel on October 7, around 500 trucks entered Gaza every day. Currently, only about 150 people are allowed into the region, not enough to meet demand, even with additional help from air and sea routes.
The IPC announcement has shaken parts of the international community. Among others expressing concern, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres defined the famine as “an entirely human-caused disaster,” while European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell accused Israel of provoking famine in Gaza and using famine as a weapon of war. calls on Israel to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza.
However, international criticism made Israel unmoved. Although the UN Security Council on Monday called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza for the month of Ramadan, and stressed the need for more humanitarian aid, it remains to be seen whether mass starvation will be the turning point that forces the international community to comprehensively end the Tel Aviv war.