The UN World Food Program warns that the crisis in Gaza “could degenerate into famine”

MADRID 30 Oct. (EUROPA PRESS) –

The United Nations World Food Program (WFP) has warned this Tuesday that the “humanitarian crisis” experienced in Gaza “could degenerate into a famine if immediate measures are not taken,” and has denounced that as the winter, “the lack of food will have catastrophic consequences.

“The restrictions on humanitarian aid reaching Gaza are severe. During the month of October, only 5,000 metric tons of food have been delivered to Gaza, representing barely 20 percent of basic food assistance for the 1,1 millions of people who depend on vital aid from the WFP,” the UN office warned in a statement.

According to a report by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), which includes around twenty institutions and organizations, in November “more than 90 percent of the population of Gaza would face a serious food crisis.”

“It predicted that a large group would be in an ’emergency phase’ of need, while others would face ‘catastrophic’ levels of food insecurity,” the organization said, adding that now, “as the situation in northern Gaza continues to deteriorate, the likelihood that a larger group will be affected by famine will surely increase unless conditions on the ground improve.”

Meanwhile, the WFP lamented, “Gaza’s food systems have largely collapsed due to the destruction of factories, farmland and shops.” “The markets are almost empty because most commercial channels no longer work,” they explained.

Therefore, they have called for “safer and more functional entry points into Gaza” with the aim of “effectively implementing significant operations and delivering crucial food assistance.”

“The United Nations World Food Program is ready to bring urgently needed supplies to Gaza, but we need more points at the border crossings to be opened and made safe,” they stressed.