UN warns of “almost inevitable” famine in Gaza and “imminent” in the North

No convoy has been able to reach northern Gaza since January 23, according to the United Nations, which denounces the obstructions of the Israeli authorities.

“If nothing changes, famine is imminent in northern Gaza.” Carl Skau, deputy executive director of the World Food Program (WFP), made an alarming observation on Tuesday February 27 before the UN Security Council. The situation is critical in this sector of the Gaza Strip, besieged by Israel, without humanitarian access and with a devastated agricultural system. No convoy has been able to reach this area since January 23, according to the UN, which denounces the obstructions of the Israeli authorities.

“If nothing is done, we fear that widespread famine in Gaza is almost inevitable”insisted Ramesh Rajasingham, on behalf of the head of the UN humanitarian office (Ocha) Martin Griffiths. “It is the end of February and there are at least 576,000 people in Gaza, a quarter of the population, who are one step away from famine”and practically all of the 2.2 million inhabitants who “are dependent on woefully inadequate humanitarian aid to survive”he added.

“As grim as the picture is today, it can still deteriorate.”

Ramesh Rajasingham, member of the UN humanitarian office

at the UN Security Council, February 27

On February 22, a note from the head of the UN humanitarian office detailed the impacts of the Israeli offensive on food security. In this text, seen by AFP on Tuesday, he calls on the Security Council to act to “ensure respect for humanitarian law, including the prohibition of using starvation of the civilian population as a method of war”.

Nearly 1,000 trucks blocked in Egypt

“According to the most likely scenario, agricultural production will have collapsed in the north by May”, underlined Tuesday before the Security Council, Maurizio Martina, Deputy Director General of the UN for Food and Agriculture (FAO). As of February 15, 46.2% of agricultural land had been damaged in the Gaza Strip, agricultural buildings “devastated”, more than a quarter of wells destroyed, some 70% of cows and 50% of small ruminants killed, he noted. And 97% of groundwater is no longer usable for human consumption.

Humanitarian aid continues to enter the Palestinian territory, but in dribs and drabs. On Monday, the head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), Philippe Lazzarini, noted on the social network January. Yet, “nearly 1,000 trucks loaded with 15,000 tons of food are in Egypt, ready to move”noted UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric on Tuesday.

Israel blames UN

Accused by the UN of obstructing aid convoys, Israel assures that it is not him “who is blocking these trucks”, according to Deputy Israeli Ambassador Jonathan Miller. He rejects the “mistake” on the UN and its inability to organize this aid “effectively”. “There is absolutely no limit (…) to the volume of humanitarian aid that can be provided to the civilian population of Gaza”, he assured. Israel has, since the start of 2024, refused 16% of requests for aid delivery due to “risks” that certain goods “end up in the hands” Hamas, he said.

Since the start of the Israeli offensive, nearly 30,000 people have died in Gaza, the vast majority civilians, according to the Hamas Ministry of Health. On the Israeli side, the unprecedented attack by the Palestinian Islamist movement on October 7 led to the death of at least 1,160 people, the majority civilians, according to an AFP count based on official Israeli data.

The Secretary General and UN humanitarian agencies have been calling for an immediate ceasefire since the start of the war, in particular to allow the adequate delivery of humanitarian aid.