The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has issued an urgent call for humanitarian aid in Gaza as hunger levels rise to alarming heights amid ongoing restrictions on essential supplies. In a statement from Rome on October 29, 2024, the WFP warned that without immediate action, Gaza could face famine, particularly as winter approaches and access to food and other vital resources remains heavily restricted.
The WFP highlighted a recent Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) report predicting that by November, over 90% of Gaza’s population will suffer from severe food insecurity, with a significant portion facing emergency and catastrophic hunger levels. Only 5,000 metric tons of food reached Gaza in October, fulfilling just 20% of the needs for the 1.1 million people relying on WFP support. The destruction of Gaza’s food infrastructure, including markets, factories, and croplands, has compounded the crisis, leaving the region on the brink of disaster.
Concerns over new Zionist legislation impacting the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) have also raised alarms. The WFP warned that the legislation threatens to disrupt UNRWA’s essential work in Gaza and the West Bank, aggravating the humanitarian crisis. To address the worsening situation, WFP is calling for additional secure border crossings to facilitate the entry of critical aid supplies, including nearly 94,000 metric tons of food stationed in neighboring regions and ready for immediate delivery to Gaza.
