Conflict Israel-Hamas: the UN declares famine in Gaza, a first in the Middle East

After months of warning against a famine in the Palestinian territory ravaged by the war. Nevertheless, the integrated framework of classification of food security (IPC), UN organization based in Rome, finally confirmed that a famine was underway in the governorate of Gaza (Gaza-Ville and its surroundings), and that it should extend to the governorates of Deir El-Balah and Khan Younès.

According to the United Nations. For example, around a million people are currently living in the governorate of Gaza, as well as half a million in that of Deir El-Balah and another half-million in that of Khan Younès.

The Gaza governorate represents approximately 20% of the Gaza Strip in surface. Meanwhile, If we add those of Khan Younès (29.5%) and Deir El-Balah (16%), we arrive at 65.5%. Furthermore, or about two-thirds of the total area conflict israel-hamas: un declares famine of ​​the Gaza Strip, a poor territory of 365 km2 where more than two million Palestinians are piled up.

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The UN believes that the conditions in the north of de Gaza are all “as serious. or even worse”, as in the Gaza governorate, but limited access to data in this area prevents the IPC from publishing an evaluation.

According to UN experts. more than half a million people in Gaza face “catastrophic” conditions, the highest level of food distress of the IPC, characterized by famine and death.

This figure, based on information collected until August 15, should go up to almost 641,000 by the end of September.

“A war crime”

Malnutrition in the children of Gaza “accelerates at a catastrophic pace”, notes conflict israel-hamas: un declares famine the UN. “In July only, more than 12,000 children were identified as acute malnutrition, the highest monthly figure ever recorded”.

The United Nations Human Rights Head, Volker Türk, recalled that “starving people for military purposes is a war crime”.

“We cannot let this situation continue with impunity,” said UN secretary general Antonio Guterres. “We need an immediate cease-fire, the immediate release of all hostages and total and unhindered humanitarian access,” he added.

According to the IPC. this is the most serious deterioration of the situation since the start of its analyzes in the Gaza Strip.

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For this organization, a famine is underway when three elements are brought together: at least 20% of households (one in five) must face an extreme lack conflict israel-hamas: un declares famine of food, at least 30% of children under five (one in three) suffer from acute malnutrition, and at least two people out of 10,000 die of hunger every day.

Faced with the accusations of Israel. the head of the UN World Food Program for Food Security, Jean-Martin Bauer, replied that “IPC is the absolute reference for food security analyzes around the world”.

The current situation in Gaza is the result of climbing the conflict in recent months. which has led to massive population trips associated with restricted access to food supplies caused by Israel.

At the beginning of March. Israel thus completely prohibited the entry of aid to Gaza, before authorizing the delivery of very limited quantities at the end of May, resulting in serious shortages of food, drugs and fuel.

Israel. who controls all access to Gaza, accuses Hamas of looting conflict israel-hamas: un declares famine aid, which the Palestinian Islamist movement denies, and humanitarian organizations not to distribute them. But they claimed that Israel required excessive restrictions and deemed very dangerous to distribute aid in the middle of war.