More than two months into the conflict between Israel and Gaza, a new analysis conducted by Oxfam revealed dangerous levels of hunger in Gaza. The lack of food amongst no electricity and no water has the entire population at “catastrophic levels of acute food insecurity across the Gaza Strip,” the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification released in a new report.
The risk of famine is increasing each day as “the current situation of intense hostilities and restricted humanitarian access persists or worsens,” according to the analysis.
“Where I’m staying now, we have nothing—no food, no electricity, no water,” one young man in southern Gaza said. “We’ve hit a point of complete exhaustion. There’s simply nothing to eat.”
According to the analysis released by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), more than 90 percent of the population in the Gaza Strip, or roughly 2.08 million people, between Nov. 24 and Dec. 7 faced high levels of acute food insecurity classified in IPC Phase 3 (Crisis or worse), or above. The IPC estimated that of this population, “40 percent of the population (939,000 people) were in Emergency (IPC Phase 4) and over 15 percent (378,000 people) were in Catastrophe (IPC Phase 5).”
“Anyone paying attention cannot be surprised by these figures after more than two months of complete siege, denial of humanitarian aid, and destruction of residential neighborhoods, bakeries, mills, farms, and other infrastructure essential for food and water production,” Abby Maxman, Oxfam America president and CEO, said. “Today’s shocking figures describing the high levels of starvation in Gaza are a direct, damning, and predictable consequence of Israel’s policy choices—and President Biden’s unconditional support and diplomatic approach.”
The IPC estimated that between December 8, 2023 and February 7, 2024, the entire population in the Gaza Strip—roughly 2.2 million people—will be classified in IPC Phase 3 or above (Crisis or worse). The IPC reported that this many people facing acute food insecurity is the highest population the IPC has ever classified for a given area or country.
“The U.S. government has repeatedly given Israel diplomatic cover, but now must urgently change course and put politics aside to prioritize the lives of civilians,” Maxman said. “Today, it has a key opportunity to do that by supporting the UN Security Council Resolution to pause the fighting and surge aid into Gaza. As humanitarians, we know no amount of aid can meaningfully address this spiraling crisis without an end to the bombing and siege, but it is unconscionable to deny it to Palestinian families who are starving.”
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