Half of the Gaza Population is Estimated to Experience “Catastrophe” level of Acute Food Insecurity
According to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification under the UN World Food Programme, it is estimated that half of Gaza’s two million population will fall into the “Phase 5 Catastrophe” level and a famine will soon occur.* According to the UN’s definition, a famine occurs when at least 20% of the household facing an extreme food shortage; 30% of children suffering from acute malnutrition; and two out of 10,000 people dying from starvation or malnutrition on a daily basis . Currently in Gaza, almost all households are skipping meals and adults are reducing meals for their children to have more. In the North Gaza where the situation is more alarming, 60% of the households were on empty stomachs day and night at least 10 times in the last 30 days; one in six children aged under 24 months are experiencing acute malnutrition. As of 7 March 2024, at least 20 children have died from starvation. A threatening hunger crisis is looming and more children’s lives are hanging by a thread.
