Gaza Herald- A famine is occurring in Gaza City and its surrounding areas, according to the international system for monitoring world hunger and food security.
The UN-backed scale, known as the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), has raised its classification for Gaza governorate to Phase 5, the highest level, which is characterized by starvation, destitution and death.
The same classification is projected to be extended to Deir el-Balah in central Gaza and Khan Younis in the south by the end of September.
At this point, more than 500,000 people throughout Gaza are living under Phase 5 conditions, an IPC report said.
Another 1.07 million people, or 54 percent of Gaza’s population, are classified as being under Phase 4, or “emergency” conditions, while 396,000 people (20 percent) are under Phase 3, or “crisis” conditions.
According to the IPC report, conditions in the North Gaza governorate, which includes cities like Beit Hanoon and Jabalia, are estimated to be just as severe or even worse.
But the IPC said it was unable to provide a food security classification for North Gaza due to limited data, highlighting an urgent need for access and assessments in the area.
The body said it had also not carried out an analysis of Rafah governorate, where Israeli military operations have caused widespread devastation, “given indications that it is largely depopulated”.
The IPC snapshot said that as of August 15, more than 281,000 people in Gaza governorate, representing 30 percent of the population – are experiencing Phase 5 levels of food insecurity, the highest rating.
More than 468,000 people, or 50 percent of the governorate’s population, were classified as experiencing Phase 4, or emergency levels.
Conditions are expected to worsen with famine conditions projected to expand to Deir el-Balah and Khan Younis governorates by the end of September.
