Gaza Faces Looming Famine Crisis, Urgent Ceasefire Needed

• Quarter of Gaza's population facing famine

• One in six children under two suffering from acute malnutrition

• Aid delivery hindered by security issues

Palestinians wait for humanitarian aid on a beachfront in Gaza City, Gaza Strip, Sunday, Feb. 25, 2024. Israel and Hamas are inching toward a new deal that would free some of the roughly 130 ho

AP

United Nations officials have issued a stark warning about the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza, with at least a quarter of the population on the brink of famine. The entire population of 2.3 million people is facing crisis levels of food insecurity, with civil order breaking down, particularly in the north where food supplies are scarce.

The dire conditions have led to alarming rates of malnutrition among children, with one in six children under the age of two in northern Gaza suffering from acute malnutrition and wasting. This has been described as the worst level of child malnutrition globally.

Efforts to deliver aid have been met with challenges, including aid trucks being shot at, looted, and overwhelmed by hungry people. The breakdown in civil order has further hindered the safe distribution of assistance, prompting the World Food Program to suspend aid deliveries to the north until security conditions improve.

The Food and Agriculture Organization highlighted the devastating impact on essential infrastructure for food production, such as farmland, greenhouses, bakeries, and irrigation systems. The blockade imposed since October has severely restricted food, electricity, and fuel supplies, disrupting the entire food supply chain.

The ongoing conflict has resulted in widespread destruction, including animal shelters, farms, water wells, and greenhouses. Livestock owners have reported significant losses, with a high number of animals perishing. The collapse of agricultural production in the north is expected to be complete by May.

While Israel has facilitated the entry of humanitarian aid, U.N. officials emphasize the urgent need for a ceasefire to allow humanitarian workers access to Gaza. Without immediate action, the threat of widespread famine looms large, with potentially devastating consequences for the civilian population.

The situation remains critical, with the death toll rising and concerns mounting over the well-being of women and children caught in the conflict. Urgent international intervention is needed to avert a humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza.