Thousands of children to face starvation in N. Gaza if entry denied, WFP warns

By Merve Aydogan

TORONTO, Canada (AA) - With essential supplies plunging rapidly, the lives of many Gazans in north, especially children, are at risk, a UN's World Food Programme official warned on Monday.

Referring to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification Initiative's (IPC) latest report as "extremely troubling," Arif Husain said "in northern Gaza, there are about 300,000 people over there. This is a place where famine is imminent between now and end of May."

Speaking at a virtual briefing, Husain said there is some aid access to the Gaza city but stressed that is not enough. He said the flow of aid into the city needs to be done in sustainable way or else it would not be enough to prevent famine from happening.

"Famine for us, as humanitarians, is admission of collective failure," he noted, adding the need for action to be taken before famine sets in.

Emphasizing that the food supplies are rapidly depleting in Gaza, starting from the north and extending across the entire Strip, Husain said the "time is running out for many people. This is why children are dying."

"And if we don't get in there (Gaza), they won't be dying in 20s or 30s. They will be dying hundreds and thousands and it is our responsibility to make sure that that doesn't happen," he stressed.

The latest report by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), prepared by UN-linked organizations, said that 70% of the population in northern Gaza is facing catastrophic levels of hunger.

The report indicated that the northern areas of Gaza and its associated districts have been classified under IPC Phase 5, indicating famine with supporting evidence.

This classification implies that approximately 70% of the population residing in northern Gaza, roughly 210,000 people, are facing catastrophic levels of hunger.