Page 38 - AA 2024

Palestine

FAO expresses deep alarm over acute

hunger in the Gaza Strip

The Food and Agriculture
Organization of the United Nations
(FAO) is deeply alarmed by the
deteriorating food security situation
in the Gaza Strip, where the entire
population of about 2.2 million people
is now facing acute hunger, according
to a new report published on Thursday
by the Integrated Food Security Phase
Classification (IPC) global initiative.
The report states that the risk of
famine increases with each additional
day of hostilities and restricted
humanitarian access, which are
affecting and limiting access by
significant portions of the population
in the Gaza Strip to food, basic services
and lifesaving assistance. The extreme
concentration or isolation of people in
inadequate shelters or areas without additional needs emerging in the human catastrophe in the region
basic services are major contributors West Bank to safeguard and restore with great concern. It is mobilizing
to the risk of famine. agriculture-based livelihoods, FAO vital agricultural supplies and stands
Director-General QU Dongyu said in a
According to the report, the entire ready to start delivering fodder –
population in the Gaza Strip is November statement. 1500 tonnes of barley – water tanks,
classified in IPC Phase 3 or above “Let me reaffirm FAO’s full veterinary kits and fuel to Gaza, once
(Crisis or worse) for the projected commitment to continue and to scale access is made available, to protect
period (8 December 2023 - 7 February up assistance to the Palestinian people, livestock and sustain livelihoods.
2024). Among these, 79 percent of taking all necessary measures to do This support is critical given that the
the population is in Emergency (IPC so within FAO’s mandate,” the FAO high population density coupled with
Phase 4) or Catastrophe (IPC Phase 5). Director-General said. “An immediate proximity of humans and animals can
ceasefire and peace are prerequisites
More specifically, at least one in four easily transform animal deaths and
households (more than half a million for food security, and the Right to Food illnesses to a health emergency.
people) face catastrophic acute food is a basic human right,” he added.
insecurity conditions (IPC Phase 5). Even before the start of hostilities, FAO is committed and will continue
This is typically characterized by more than a quarter of the population to mobilize its technical expertise
households experiencing an extreme of Palestine was already estimated to to support the people of Palestine,
lack of food, leading to starvation, be food insecure, including more than including through its co-leadership of
alarmingly high acute malnutrition half of the population of the Gaza Strip. the Food Security Cluster. In addition,
rates among children under five, and The escalation of hostilities has since FAO will support agrifood sector
significant excess mortality. halted supplies of water, food and assessments on the ground as soon as
In accordance with its mandate fuel, causing the collapse of all food- conditions allow and will also monitor
and in coordination with its partners, related sectors, including vegetable the impact of hostilities on food
FAO is fully committed to addressing production, livestock production, and security in the region and beyond to
the pressing humanitarian needs of fisheries and aquaculture. allow for better informed and targeted
the population in the Gaza Strip and FAO has been following the unfolding interventions.
36 Arab Agriculture 2024