Latest news with #JensLaerke
The Irish Sun
a day ago
- Politics
- The Irish Sun
Terror group Hamas claims it is ready to release hostages in a bid to end the war in Gaza
HAMAS has said that it is ready to release hostages in a bid to end the war in Gaza. The move by Advertisement Hamas said it would release ten living hostages and 18 bodies in return for Israel's release of a number of Hamas said: 'This proposal aims to achieve a permanent ceasefire, (Israeli) withdrawal from the Gaza Strip and ensure the flow of aid to our people and families.' There was no immediate response from Israel to the statement. But PM Advertisement Read More on GAZA It comes as It said the territory's entire population was at risk of famine. Displaced Advertisement Most read in The Sun Women and children were among those gathered in Jens Laerke, of the UN's humanitarian agency, said it was the only area on the planet where 100 per cent of the population was at risk of famine. He added: 'Gaza is the hungriest place on Earth.' Death of Hamas chief Mohammad Sinwar could cause DECIMATED terror group to implode 1 Benjamin Netanyahu had last week told families of the hostages they had accepted US ceasefire proposals Credit: AP Advertisement
Los Angeles Times
2 days ago
- General
- Los Angeles Times
What is a famine and who declares one?
For months, U.N. officials, aid groups and experts have warned that Palestinians in Gaza are on the brink of famine. Gaza's population of more than 2 million people relies almost entirely on outside aid to survive because Israel's 19-month-old military offensive has wiped out most capacity to produce food inside the territory. Israel said it imposed the blockade to pressure Hamas into releasing the hostages it holds and because it accuses Hamas of siphoning off aid, without providing evidence. The U.N. says there are mechanisms in place that prevent any significant diversion of aid, though aid trucks have been robbed and hungry crowds have broken into aid warehouses a few times. No famine has been formally declared in Gaza. The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, or IPC, the leading international authority on hunger crises, considers an area to be in famine when three things occur: 20% of households have an extreme lack of food, or essentially are starving; at least 30% of children suffer from acute malnutrition or wasting, meaning they're too thin for their height; and two adults or four children per every 10,000 people are dying daily of hunger and its complications. Famine can appear in pockets — sometimes small ones — and a formal classification requires caution. Last year, experts said a famine was ongoing in parts of North Darfur in Sudan. Somalia, in 2011, and South Sudan, in 2017, also saw famines in which tens of thousands of people were affected. Gaza poses a particular complication for experts since access is severely limited, making gathering data difficult if not impossible in some cases. Last year, the IPC said an area can be classified as in 'famine with reasonable evidence' if two of the three thresholds have been reached and crossing the third appears likely to have happened. The IPC unites experts from more than 20 organizations like the U.N.'s health, development and food aid agencies. The short answer is, there's no set rule. While the IPC says it is the 'primary mechanism' used by the international community to analyze data and conclude whether a famine is happening or projected, it typically doesn't make such a declaration itself. Often, U.N. officials or governments will make a formal statement, based on an analysis from the IPC. 'There's a widespread misunderstanding that someone has to declare a famine before it is a famine. That is not the case,' said Jens Laerke, a spokesman for the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. 'When IPC shows the data that hits the threshold for a famine, then it's a famine.' Theoretically, governments and the international aid community, including the United Nations, unlock aid and funding to help feed people en masse. In general, international preparation and effective deployment in response to famines can be lacking. 'There is not a big, huge bank account' to draw on, said OCHA's Laerke. 'The fundamental problem is that we build the fire engine as we respond.' Keaten writes for the Associated Press. Associated Press writer Bassem Mroue in Beirut contributed.
Sky News
2 days ago
- Business
- Sky News
Israel-Gaza latest: Dozens of UN food lorries 'blocked and emptied by Palestinians'; Hamas submits response to ceasefire proposal
Gaza 'hungriest place on Earth' - so why has famine not been declared? Gaza has been described as the "hungriest place on Earth" by the UN humanitarian affairs coordination office (OCHA). Jens Laerke told reporters in Geneva that it is the only territory in the world where the entire population is at risk of famine. As we have been reporting (see our 8.58am post) the resumption of limited aid deliveries has made little impact on hungry residents, according to the UN. Laerke said less than 600 aid trucks have been offloaded in Gaza, out of nearly 900 that were approved to enter from Israel. 'It is drip-feeding food into an area on the verge of catastrophic hunger,' he insisted. Despite the recurring warnings about a lack of food, famine has not officially been declared in Gaza. Here's why. What is famine? The leading international authority on hunger crises, the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), considers an area to be in famine when three things occur: 20% of households have an extreme lack of food, or essentially are starving; At least 30% of children suffer from acute malnutrition or wasting, meaning they're too thin for their height; Two adults or four children per every 10,000 people are dying daily of hunger and its complications. Why has famine not been declared in Gaza? Access to Gaza is extremely limited to experts, meaning that gathering data is extremely difficult if not impossible in some cases. Last year, the IPC said famine can be classified in an area if "reasonable evidence" of two of the three above thresholds have been reached and crossing the third appears likely to have happened. Although there is no set rule on "declaring" famine, UN officials or governments will typically make a formal announcement. Laerke from the OCHA said once IPS data shows an area has hit the threshold for a famine, it is a famine, announcement or not.
Sky News
2 days ago
- Business
- Sky News
Israel-Gaza latest: Dozens of UN food lorries 'blocked and emptied by Palestinians'
Gaza 'hungriest place on Earth' - so why has famine not been declared? Gaza has been described as the "hungriest place on Earth" by the UN humanitarian affairs coordination office (OCHA). Jens Laerke told reporters in Geneva that it is the only territory in the world where the entire population is at risk of famine. As we have been reporting (see our 8.58am post) the resumption of limited aid deliveries has made little impact on hungry residents, according to the UN. Laerke said less than 600 aid trucks have been offloaded in Gaza, out of nearly 900 that were approved to enter from Israel. 'It is drip-feeding food into an area on the verge of catastrophic hunger,' he insisted. Despite the recurring warnings about a lack of food, famine has not officially been declared in Gaza. Here's why. What is famine? The leading international authority on hunger crises, the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), considers an area to be in famine when three things occur: 20% of households have an extreme lack of food, or essentially are starving; At least 30% of children suffer from acute malnutrition or wasting, meaning they're too thin for their height; Two adults or four children per every 10,000 people are dying daily of hunger and its complications. Why has famine not been declared in Gaza? Access to Gaza is extremely limited to experts, meaning that gathering data is extremely difficult if not impossible in some cases. Last year, the IPC said famine can be classified in an area if "reasonable evidence" of two of the three above thresholds have been reached and crossing the third appears likely to have happened. Although there is no set rule on "declaring" famine, UN officials or governments will typically make a formal announcement. Laerke from the OCHA said once IPS data shows an area has hit the threshold for a famine, it is a famine, announcement or not.
Sky News
2 days ago
- Business
- Sky News
Israel-Gaza latest: Israel blocks meeting over independent Palestinian state
Gaza 'hungriest place on Earth' - so why has famine not been declared? Gaa has been described as the "hungriest place on Earth" by the UN humanitarian affairs coordination office (OCHA). Jens Laerke told reporters in Geneva that it is the only territory in the world where the entire population is at risk of famine. As we have been reporting (see our 8.58am post) the resumption of limited aid deliveries has made little impact on hungry residents, according to the UN. Mr Laerke said less than 600 aid trucks have been offloaded in Gaza, out of nearly 900 that were approved to enter from Israel. 'It is drip-feeding food into an area on the verge of catastrophic hunger,' he insisted. Despite the recurring warnings about a lack of food, famine has not officially been declared in Gaza. Here's why. What is famine? The leading international authority on hunger crises, the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), considers an area to be in famine when three things occur: 20% of households have an extreme lack of food, or essentially are starving; At least 30% of children suffer from acute malnutrition or wasting, meaning they're too thin for their height; Two adults or four children per every 10,000 people are dying daily of hunger and its complications. Why has famine not been declared in Gaza? Access to Gaza is extremely limited to experts, meaning that gathering data is extremely difficult if not impossible in some cases. Last year, the IPC said famine can be classified in an area if "reasonable evidence" of two of the three above thresholds have been reached and crossing the third appears likely to have happened. Although there is no set rule on "declaring" famine, UN officials or governments will typically make a formal announcement. Mr Laerke from the OCHA said once IPS data shows an area has hit the threshold for a famine, it is a famine, announcement or not.
