Latest news with #foodcrisis
CBS News
a day ago
- Health
- CBS News
"Worst-case scenario of famine unfolding" in Gaza Strip, food security experts say
The "worst-case scenario of famine is currently playing out in the Gaza Strip," the leading international authority on food crises said in a new alert Tuesday, predicting "widespread death" without immediate action. The alert, still short of a formal famine declaration, follows an outcry over images of emaciated children in Gaza and reports of dozens of hunger-related deaths after nearly 22 months of war. The international pressure led Israel over the weekend to announce measures, including daily humanitarian pauses in fighting in parts of Gaza and airdrops. The United Nations and Palestinians on the ground say little has changed, and desperate crowds continue to overwhelm and unload delivery trucks before they can reach their destinations. The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, or IPC, said Gaza has teetered on the brink of famine for two years, but recent developments have "dramatically worsened" the situation, including "increasingly stringent blockades" by Israel. "Mounting evidence shows that widespread starvation, malnutrition, and disease are driving a rise in hunger-related deaths. Latest data indicates that Famine thresholds have been reached for food consumption in most of the Gaza Strip and for acute malnutrition in Gaza City," the IPC said. "Immediate action must be taken to end the hostilities and allow for unimpeded, large-scale, life-saving humanitarian response. This is the only path to stopping further deaths and catastrophic human suffering." A formal famine declaration, which is rare, requires the kind of data that the lack of access to Gaza and mobility within it have largely denied. The IPC has only declared famine a few times - in Somalia in 2011, South Sudan in 2017 and 2020, and parts of Sudan's western Darfur region last year. But independent experts say they don't need a formal declaration to know what they're seeing in Gaza. "Just as a family physician can often diagnose a patient she's familiar with based on visible symptoms without having to send samples to the lab and wait for results, so too we can interpret Gaza's symptoms. This is famine," Alex de Waal, author of "Mass Starvation: The History and Future of Famine" and executive director of the World Peace Foundation, told The Associated Press. An area is classified as in famine when all three of the following conditions are confirmed: At least 20% of households have an extreme lack of food, or are essentially starving. At least 30% of children six months to 5 years old suffer from acute malnutrition or wasting, meaning they're too thin for their height. And at least two people or four children under 5 per 10,000 are dying daily due to starvation or the interaction of malnutrition and disease. The report is based on available information through July 25 and says the crisis has reached "an alarming and deadly turning point." It says data indicate that famine thresholds have been reached for food consumption in most of Gaza - at its lowest level since the war began - and for acute malnutrition in Gaza City. The report says nearly 17 out of every 100 children under the age of 5 in Gaza City are acutely malnourished. Mounting evidence shows "widespread starvation," the IPC health and other services have collapsed. One in three people in Gaza is going without food for days at a time, according to the World Food Program. Hospitals report a rapid increase in hunger-related deaths in children under 5. Gaza's population of over 2 million has been squeezed into increasingly tiny areas of the devastated territory. The IPC's latest analysis in May warned that Gaza will likely fall into famine if Israel doesn't lift its blockade and stop its military campaign. Its new alert calls for immediate and large-scale action and warns: "Failure to act now will result in widespread death in much of the strip." Israel has restricted aid to varying degrees throughout the war. In March, it cut off the entry of all goods, including fuel, food and medicine, to pressure Hamas to free hostages. Israel eased those restrictions in May but also pushed ahead with a new U.S.-backed aid delivery system that has been wracked by chaos and violence. The traditional, U.N.-led aid providers say deliveries have been hampered by Israeli military restrictions and incidents of looting, while criminals and hungry crowds swarm entering convoys. While Israel says there's no limit on how many aid trucks can enter Gaza, U.N. agencies and aid groups say even the latest humanitarian measures are not enough to counter the worsening starvation. In a statement Monday, Doctors Without Borders called the new airdrops ineffective and dangerous, saying they deliver less aid than trucks. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said no one is starving in Gaza and that Israel has supplied enough aid throughout the war, "otherwise, there would be no Gazans." Israel's military on Monday criticized what it calls "false claims of deliberate starvation in Gaza." Israel's closest ally now appears to disagree. "Those children look very hungry," President Donald Trump said Monday of the images from Gaza in recent Ott contributed to this report.
Telegraph
a day ago
- Politics
- Telegraph
Police open fire on hungry refugees in Kenya as US aid cuts trigger food shortages
Police opened fire on hungry refugees in northern Kenya on Monday amid a worsening food crisis triggered by the abrupt withdrawal of US humanitarian funding. At least two people were reportedly killed after angry protesters attempted to storm a United Nations facility in Kakuma, a settlement housing more than 300,000 refugees. Aid workers have warned of a looming humanitarian crisis in Kenya's refugee camps after the UN's World Food Programme (WFP) was forced to slash rations when the Trump administration cut foreign aid. Until January, the United States funded 70 percent of WFP's programme feeding more in the Kakuma and Dadaab camps, which house more than 800,000 refugees who have fled conflict and natural disaster from more than a dozen countries in Africa and beyond. But shortly after Donald Trump's inauguration, the State department halted contributions, leaving WFP unable to provide more than 30 per cent of the minimum daily calories needed to stay healthy. Assistance is usually split between direct food aid and cash handouts, designed to give refugees choice and support small businesses in the camps. But ration cuts have left many families skipping meals, with child and adult malnutrition rising sharply. The crisis is most acute at Kalobeyei, an experimental settlement within Kakuma where more than 70,000 refugees relied almost entirely on cash transfers. Handouts stopped altogether at the end of June, collapsing local businesses and driving many into debt. Ironically, Monday's protest, which was centred on Kalobeyei, was sparked by news that the programme would resume – but only partially. Refugees were divided into four categories, with the most vulnerable receiving just £3-£6 a month, while the rest would get nothing. Hundreds gathered outside a WFP storage facility at dawn to denounce what they called 'differentiated assistance'. As crowds swelled, the protest turned violent, witnesses said. 'They broke down the doors and were attacking people with knives and stones,' said one refugee, injured by a rock and trapped inside with WFP staff. 'We managed to escape in WFP vehicles but a number of people were hurt.' Witnesses said demonstrators set fire to an empty warehouse before police opened fire, killing two people and wounding several others. Kenyan police and UN officials declined to comment on casualties but The Telegraph was able to confirm the death of one protester, shot in the back of the head. WFP said it was investigating. 'The World Food Programme (WFP) can confirm that a fire broke out at its storage facility in Kalobeyei Settlement in northern Kenya on Monday 28th July,' a WFP spokesperson said. 'WFP and the local authorities are looking into the circumstances surrounding this incident and assessing any damage or losses. 'WFP's priority is the safety and well-being of the people we serve, and our staff.'
The Independent
a day ago
- Health
- The Independent
Famine now unfolding in Gaza, according to UN-backed authority
The leading international authority on food crises is predicting 'widespread death' in the Gaza Strip if there is no immediate action. The 'worst-case scenario of famine is currently playing out' in the enclave, the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, or IPC, said on Tuesday. Gaza has teetered on the brink of famine for two years, but recent developments have 'dramatically worsened' the situation, including 'increasingly stringent blockades' by Israel, the group said. The alert, which is short of a formal declaration of famine, follows an international outcry over photos of emaciated children in Gaza. There have been reports of dozens of hunger-related deaths as desperate crowds continue to overwhelm delivery trucks. In response to international pressure, Israel announced measures over the weekend including daily humanitarian pauses in fighting in parts of Gaza and airdrops. The United Nations and Palestinians on the ground say little has changed. A formal famine declaration, which is rare, requires the kind of data that the lack of access to Gaza and mobility within has largely denied. The IPC has only declared famine a few times — in Somalia in 2011, South Sudan in 2017 and 2020, and parts of Sudan's western Darfur region in 2024. But independent experts say they do not need a formal declaration to know what they are seeing in Gaza. 'Just as a family physician can often diagnose a patient she's familiar with based on visible symptoms without having to send samples to the lab and wait for results, so too we can interpret Gaza's symptoms. This is famine,' Alex de Waal, author of Mass Starvation: The History and Future of Famine and executive director of the World Peace Foundation, said. An area is classified as in famine when all three of the following conditions are confirmed: At least 20 per cent of households have an extreme lack of food, or are essentially starving. At least 30 per cent of children six months to 5 years old suffer from acute malnutrition or wasting, meaning they are too thin for their height. At least two people or four children under 5 per 10,000 are dying daily due to starvation or the interaction of malnutrition and disease. The report is based on available information through 25 July and says the crisis has reached 'an alarming and deadly turning point'. It says data indicate that famine thresholds have been reached for food consumption in most of Gaza — at its lowest level since the war began — and for acute malnutrition in Gaza City. The report says nearly 17 out of every 100 children under the age of 5 in Gaza City are acutely malnourished. Mounting evidence shows 'widespread starvation'. Essential health and other services have collapsed. One in three people in Gaza is going without food for days at a time, according to the World Food Program. Hospitals report a rapid increase in hunger-related deaths in children under 5. Gaza's population of over 2 million has been squeezed into increasingly tiny areas of the devastated territory. The IPC's latest analysis in May warned that Gaza will likely fall into famine if Israel does not lift its blockade and stop its military campaign. Its new alert calls for immediate and large-scale action and warns: 'Failure to act now will result in widespread death in much of the strip.' Israel has restricted aid to varying degrees throughout the war. In March, it cut off the entry of all goods, including fuel, food and medicine, to pressure Hamas to free hostages. Israel eased those restrictions in May but also pushed ahead with a new US-backed aid delivery system that has been wracked by chaos and violence. The traditional, UN-led aid providers say deliveries have been hampered by Israeli military restrictions and incidents of looting, while criminals and hungry crowds swarm entering convoys. While Israel says there is no limit on how many aid trucks can enter Gaza, U.N. agencies and aid groups say even the latest humanitarian measures are not enough to counter the worsening starvation. In a statement on Monday, Doctors Without Borders called the new airdrops ineffective and dangerous, saying they deliver less aid than trucks. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said that no one is starving in Gaza and that Israel has supplied enough aid throughout the war, 'otherwise, there would be no Gazans'. Israel's military on Monday criticised what it calls 'false claims of deliberate starvation in Gaza'. Israel's closest ally now appears to disagree. 'Those children look very hungry,' President Donald Trump said on Monday of the images from Gaza in recent days.
Al Arabiya
a day ago
- Health
- Al Arabiya
‘Worst-case scenario of famine' is happening in Gaza, food crisis experts say
The worst-case scenario of famine is currently unfolding in the Gaza Strip, according to the leading international authority on food crises, which issued a new alert Tuesday predicting widespread death without immediate action. The alert, still short of a formal famine declaration, follows an outcry over images of emaciated children in Gaza and reports of dozens of hunger-related deaths after nearly 22 months of war. International pressure led Israel over the weekend to announce measures, including daily humanitarian pauses in fighting in parts of Gaza and airdrops. The United Nations and Palestinians on the ground say little has changed, and desperate crowds continue to overwhelm and unload delivery trucks before they can reach their destinations. The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, or IPC, said Gaza has teetered on the brink of famine for two years, but recent developments have dramatically worsened the situation, including increasingly stringent blockades by Israel. A formal famine declaration, which is rare, requires the kind of data that the lack of access to Gaza and mobility within has largely denied. The IPC has only declared famine a few times – in Somalia in 2011, South Sudan in 2017 and 2020, and parts of Sudan's western Darfur region last year. But independent experts say they don't need a formal declaration to know what they're seeing in Gaza. 'Just as a family physician can often diagnose a patient she's familiar with based on visible symptoms without having to send samples to the lab and wait for results, so too we can interpret Gaza's symptoms. This is famine,' Alex de Waal, author of Mass Starvation: The History and Future of Famine and executive director of the World Peace Foundation, told The Associated Press. What it takes to declare famine: An area is classified as in famine when all three of the following conditions are confirmed: At least 20 percent of households have an extreme lack of food or are essentially starving; at least 30 percent of children six months to 5 years old suffer from acute malnutrition or wasting, meaning they're too thin for their height; and at least two people or four children under 5 per 10,000 are dying daily due to starvation or the interaction of malnutrition and disease. The report is based on available information through July 25 and says the crisis has reached an alarming and deadly turning point. It says data indicate that famine thresholds have been reached for food consumption in most of Gaza – at its lowest level since the war began – and for acute malnutrition in Gaza City. The report says nearly 17 out of every 100 children under the age of 5 in Gaza City are acutely malnourished. Mounting evidence shows widespread starvation. Essential health and other services have collapsed. One in three people in Gaza is going without food for days at a time, according to the World Food Program. Hospitals report a rapid increase in hunger-related deaths in children under 5. Gaza's population of over 2 million has been squeezed into increasingly tiny areas of the devastated territory. The IPC's latest analysis in May warned that Gaza will likely fall into famine if Israel doesn't lift its blockade and stop its military campaign. I ts new alert calls for immediate and large-scale action and warns: 'Failure to act now will result in widespread death in much of the strip.' What aid restrictions look like: Israel has restricted aid to varying degrees throughout the war. In March, it cut off the entry of all goods, including fuel, food, and medicine, to pressure Hamas to free hostages. Israel eased those restrictions in May but also pushed ahead with a new US-backed aid delivery system that has been wracked by chaos and violence. The traditional UN-led aid providers say deliveries have been hampered by Israeli military restrictions and incidents of looting while criminals and hungry crowds swarm entering convoys. While Israel says there's no limit on how many aid trucks can enter Gaza, UN agencies and aid groups say even the latest humanitarian measures are not enough to counter the worsening starvation. In a statement Monday, Doctors Without Borders called the new airdrops 'ineffective and dangerous,' saying they deliver less aid than trucks. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said no one is starving in Gaza and that Israel has supplied enough aid throughout the war; otherwise, there would be no Gazans. Israel's military on Monday criticized what it calls false claims of deliberate starvation in Gaza. Israel's closest ally now appears to disagree. 'Those children look very hungry,' President Donald Trump said Monday of the images from Gaza in recent days.
BreakingNews.ie
a day ago
- Health
- BreakingNews.ie
‘Worst-case scenario of famine' happening in Gaza, experts say
The 'worst-case scenario of famine is currently playing out in the Gaza Strip', the leading international authority on food crises has said. A new alert, still short of a formal famine declaration, follows an outcry over images of emaciated children in Gaza and reports of dozens of hunger-related deaths after nearly 22 months of war. Advertisement The international pressure led Israel over the weekend to announce measures, including daily humanitarian pauses in fighting in parts of Gaza and air drops. The United Nations and Palestinians on the ground say little has changed though, and desperate crowds continue to overwhelm and unload delivery trucks before they can reach their destinations. Humanitarian aid is air-dropped to Palestinians (Abdel Kareem Hana/AP) The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, or IPC, said Gaza has teetered on the brink of famine for two years but recent developments have 'dramatically worsened' the situation, including 'increasingly stringent blockades' by Israel. A formal famine declaration, which is rare, requires the kind of data that the lack of access to Gaza and mobility within has largely denied. Advertisement The IPC has only declared famine a few times — in Somalia in 2011, South Sudan in 2017 and 2020, and parts of Sudan's western Darfur region last year. But independent experts say they do not need a formal declaration to know what they are seeing in Gaza. 'Just as a family physician can often diagnose a patient she's familiar with based on visible symptoms without having to send samples to the lab and wait for results, so too we can interpret Gaza's symptoms. This is famine,' Alex de Waal, author of Mass Starvation: The History And Future Of Famine and executive director of the World Peace Foundation, told The Associated Press. An area is classified as in famine when all three of the following conditions are confirmed: Advertisement – At least 20% of households have an extreme lack of food, or are essentially starving. – At least 30% of children aged six months to five-years-old suffer from acute malnutrition or wasting, meaning they are too thin for their height. – At least two people or four children under five per 10,000 are dying daily due to starvation or the interaction of malnutrition and disease. The report is based on available information through to July 25 and says the crisis has reached 'an alarming and deadly turning point'. Advertisement It says data indicates that famine thresholds have been reached for food consumption in most of Gaza — at its lowest level since the war began — and for acute malnutrition in Gaza City. The report says nearly 17 out of every 100 children under the age of five in Gaza City are acutely malnourished. Mounting evidence shows 'widespread starvation'. Essential health and other services have collapsed. One in three people in Gaza is going without food for days at a time, according to the World Food Programme. Advertisement Hospitals report a rapid increase in hunger-related deaths in children under five. Gaza's population of over two million has been squeezed into increasingly tiny areas of the devastated territory. The IPC's latest analysis in May warned that Gaza will likely fall into famine if Israel does not lift its blockade and stop its military campaign. Its new alert calls for immediate and large-scale action and warns: 'Failure to act now will result in widespread death in much of the strip.' Israel has restricted aid to varying degrees throughout the war. In March, it cut off the entry of all goods, including fuel, food and medicine, to pressure Hamas to free hostages. Israel eased those restrictions in May but also pushed ahead with a new US-backed aid delivery system that has been wracked by chaos and violence. Palestinians inspect a site struck by an Israeli bombardment in Muwasi, Khan Younis (Mariam Dagga/AP) The traditional, UN-led aid providers say deliveries have been hampered by Israeli military restrictions and incidents of looting, while criminals and hungry crowds swarm convoys. While Israel says there is no limit on how many aid trucks can enter Gaza, UN agencies and aid groups say even the latest humanitarian measures are not enough to counter the worsening starvation. In a statement Monday, Doctors Without Borders called the new air drops ineffective and dangerous, saying they deliver less aid than trucks. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said no one is starving in Gaza and that Israel has supplied enough aid throughout the war, 'otherwise, there would be no Gazans'. Israel's military criticised what it calls 'false claims of deliberate starvation in Gaza'. Israel's closest ally now appears to disagree. 'Those children look very hungry,' President Donald Trump said on Monday of the images from Gaza in recent days.
