GAZA, (Palestine Foundation Information Center), The UN World Food Program (WFP) has warned that hunger may return to catastrophic levels in the Gaza Strip despite the expansion of its humanitarian operations, underscoring the urgent need to ensure the flow of aid.
“One hundred days into the ceasefire, the United Nations World Food Program (WFP) has significantly expanded its life saving operations across the Gaza Strip, reaching more than one million people each month,” WFP said in a press release on Monday.
“While critical progress has been made in pushing back famine, the situation remains extremely fragile. Sustained access through all crossings, the flow of humanitarian and commercial goods, and the continuation of the ceasefire are essential to prevent Gaza from sliding back into catastrophic hunger,” WFP warned.
“Almost all families in Gaza are dependent on food aid. This is not sustainable in the long term. We must continue the life-saving flow of aid while rebuilding livelihoods, dietary diversity, and self-sufficiency towards recovery,” according to its statement.
“According to the most recent Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) analysis in December, 77 percent of the population is still facing crisis levels food insecurity (IPC-3 and above), with over 100,000 people experiencing catastrophic levels of hunger (IPC-5).”
“The food security gains achieved over the last 100 days remain fragile,” WFP noted.
“Border crossings must stay open, volumes of food aid and commercial goods must keep flowing, and the ceasefire must hold if we are to prevent Gaza from slipping back into the worst levels of hunger,” WFP underscored.
