UN-backed agency says famine in Gaza is ‘entirely man-made’

Brussels – In Gaza, there is an “entirely man-made” famine, according to a report of the UN-backed Famine Review Committee (FRC).  “Famine (Phase 5 of the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, IPC, developed by the FAO years ago) is currently occurring in the Gaza Governorate. Furthermore, the FRC projects Famine (IPC Phase 5) thresholds to be crossed in Deir al-Balah and Khan Younis Governorates in the coming weeks.”

The 50-page report states that “As this Famine is entirely man-made, it can be halted and reversed. The time for debate and hesitation has passed; starvation​ is present and is rapidly spreading.”

The document goes on to warn that “There should be no doubt in anyone’s mind that an immediate, at-scale response is
needed. Any further delay—even by days—will result in a totally unacceptable escalation of Famine-related mortality.“ Therefore, unless “a ceasefire is not implemented to allow humanitarian aid to reach everyone in the Gaza Strip, and if essential food supplies,
and basic health, nutrition, and WASH services are not restored immediately, avoidable deaths will increase exponentially.”

Israel, while continuing to bomb and announcing the imminent arrival of “hell” in the strip where it systematically prevents the arrival of humanitarian aid, in the most shameful of hypocrisies, tries to accuse Hamas of this situation as well. COGAT, the Israeli military agency that coordinates aid, accused Hamas of a “false hunger campaign” and claimed that the UN and others are spreading unfounded claims about hunger in Gaza.

 Meanwhile, Poland also joined 21 other countries in condemning Israel’s new illegal plan to build the E1 settlement in the West Bank, calling it a “flagrant violation of international law.”

The project to build 3,400 homes has been condemned internationally, also by Italy, as it will cut off a large part of the occupied West Bank from East Jerusalem, connecting thousands of illegal Israeli settlements in the area.