WHO chief warns of impending famine in Gaza, calls for increased efforts

WHO Director-General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, warned that northern Gaza was on the verge of facing imminent famine if intervention regarding humanitarian aid was not carried out within days in the area.

Expressing sadness over

he/she called for the immediate scaling up and safe access of humanitarian assistance, primarily food and medicines, to combat severe malnutrition.

extremely worrying – @theIPCinfo Warned that there is a strong possibility of famine in the northern part #Gaza Is imminent.

We call for urgent scaling up and safe access of humanitarian aid – primarily food and medicines for severe malnutrition – within days, not weeks. https://t.co/YZtdPs4RXk

– Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros) 8 November 2024

Sharing the Famine Review Committee (FRC) IPC report, the WHO Director-General called for collective global action.

The report, published on 8 November, expressed concern about the imminent and substantial possibility of famine due to the rapidly deteriorating situation in the Gaza Strip.

Various comments were made in the report. It said that according to OCHA data, the number of aid shipments being sent to the Gaza Strip is lower than at any time since October 2023.

The WFP market monitoring report for the second half of October indicates that the average number of trucks entering the Gaza Strip fell to only 58 per day, the lowest level since November 2023.

It was also noted that prices of basic commodities such as cooking fuel rose sharply, even on the black market. Extremely high and rising prices of essential commodities have been accompanied by a complete collapse of livelihoods capable of purchasing or bartering for food and other basic needs.

In a critical observation, the report said, “It is already clear that the worst-case scenario developed by the analysis team is now playing out in areas of the northern Gaza Strip”.

“It can therefore be assumed that starvation, malnutrition and excess mortality due to malnutrition and disease are increasing rapidly in these areas. The report said famine thresholds have already been exceeded or will be in the near future.

Since the beginning of the conflict in the Middle East, Gaza has seen an increasing humanitarian crisis.