Gaza at risk of famine, warns World Food Program

ISTANBUL

The UN World Food Program (WFP) has warned of the possibility of a famine in the Gaza Strip, stressing that supplies are woefully insufficient to address the hunger levels observed by WFP staff in UN shelters.

"It is highly likely that the population of Gaza, especially women and children are at high risk of famine if WFP is not able to provide continued access to food," the WFP said in a statement on Tuesday.

"The WFP delivered desperately needed food to more than 120,000 people in Gaza during the initial pause," the statement added.

"Thanks to the pause, our teams have been in action on the ground, going into areas we haven't reached for a long time. What we see is catastrophic," said Corinne Fleischer, the WFP’s director for the MENA and Eastern Europe Region,.

"Six days is simply not enough to provide all the assistance needed. The people of Gaza have to eat every day, not just for six days", she added.

Samer Abdeljaber, the WFP representative and country director in Palestine, said that program's teams witnessed "hunger, despair, and destruction" among people who have not received any relief for weeks.

The humanitarian pause provided a moment of relief, he said, "which we hope will pave the way for long-term calm.”

The uninterrupted and secure delivery of humanitarian aid must continue now without obstacles, he added.

Qatar announced an agreement late Monday to extend an initial four-day humanitarian pause in fighting between Israel and Hamas for an additional two days, under which further prisoner exchanges will be carried out and there will be the more opportunities to deliver aid.

Israel launched a massive military campaign in the Gaza Strip following a cross-border attack by Hamas on Oct. 7.

It has since killed over 15,000 people, including 6,150 children and 4,000 women, according to health authorities in the enclave.

The official Israeli death toll stands at 1,200.

Writing by Ziad Aslan