"The IPC, which represents a fastidious survey of available data, is regarded as the international gold standard in nutritional crises. Long-criticised by humanitarians in other emergencies for its overabundance of caution, the IPC's declaration of Level 5 catastrophic hunger in Gaza is a significant moment. Famine, under the IPC's exacting criteria, requires three critical thresholds to be passed: extreme food deprivation, acute malnutrition and starvation-related deaths, all of which are now visible in Gaza."
"A quarter of all Palestinians in Gaza are starving more than 500,000 people with that number expected to rise to more than 640,000 within six weeks. A mark of the IPC's thoroughness is that despite the very strong suspicion that famine conditions exist in the far north of Gaza, it has not declared famine there because of a shortage of available reliable data."
"Aid agencies large and small including Medecins Sans Frontieres' clinics have been collecting their own data of growing levels of acute malnutrition. Palestinian doctors, journalists and ordinary individuals have told their own stories of going without food for days, of dramatic weight loss and exhaustion."
The IPC declared widespread famine in Gaza after finding extreme food deprivation, acute malnutrition and starvation-related deaths. About a quarter of Gaza's population—more than 500,000 people—are currently starving, with projections exceeding 640,000 within six weeks. The IPC withheld declaring famine in the far north because of insufficient reliable data despite strong suspicion of famine there. Aid agencies, including Médecins Sans Frontières, and Palestinian medical staff report rising acute malnutrition and accounts of people going without food for days. Vulnerable groups, such as the very young, the elderly and those with chronic illnesses, are dying. Israeli authorities deny responsibility, minimise deaths and restrict media access.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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