IRC censures Israel for blocking essential supplies to northern Gaza

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) is demanding humanitarian aid be allowed to enter northern Gaza where Israel forces renewed a brutal military assault and imposed an all-out siege last month.

In a statement released on Monday, the IRC humanitarian aid must be allowed to enter immediately in light of the latest findings by the global hunger monitor – an internationally recognized standard known as the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC).

The report, which was issued by the IPC Famine Review Committee two weeks ago, said starvation and a widespread scarcity of food is likely “imminent” in the area.

The IRC said the report marked a “sharp and alarming deterioration” since last month’s report, which projected a “tripling” in the number of people facing food shortages in the coming months.

“The worst-case scenario may already be underway: Across Gaza, starvation, malnutrition, and excess mortality due to malnutrition and disease are rapidly increasing. The situation is critical. We have days, not weeks, to take decisive action to alleviate these dire conditions,” the IRC said.

Isabel as occupying power must ensure that Gaza is supplied with the food, it said.

“Israel must fulfill its obligations to ensure that people across Gaza can access food, medical supplies and other basic necessities needed for the survival of the population. Lives are now hanging in the balance,” the statement added.

Gaza humanitarian crisis ‘man-made’, Israel must obey ICJ order: UNRWA

The head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees says cooperation means Israel must allow UNRWA to reach northern Gaza.

Meanwhile, Bart Witteveen, the International Rescue Committee's (IRC) Country Director for the occupied Palestinian territory, said the situation in Northern Gaza is now beyond crisis point.

"Over 80% of humanitarian aid into Gaza is currently blocked, with deliveries now at their lowest levels since October 2023.  Before October 2023, an average of 500 humanitarian aid trucks entered Gaza each day. This level was already insufficient to meet the needs of the population.  Now the levels have reached dangerous lows."

“The worst-case scenario may already be underway: across Gaza, starvation, malnutrition, and excess mortality due to malnutrition and disease are rapidly increasing.”

“The situation is critical. We have days, not weeks, to take decisive action to alleviate these dire conditions. The warnings from humanitarian organizations have been clear and consistent: failure to act will lead to more preventable deaths of civilians."

On Tuesday, UN Security Council received warnings from experts about famine being "occurring or imminent" in northern Gaza regions.

Israeli forces have maintained a new offensive and an all-out siege in the north the besieged Palestinian territory for more than a month.

International charity, Doctors without Borders, says its Gaza clinics have reported a huge increase in the number of newly displaced Palestinians.

Gaza Health Ministry announced that the Palestinian death toll has passed 43,900, most of them women and children. Nearly 104,000 others have been injured.

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