Aid agencies report that half a million people in Gaza are facing starvation, with all 2.3 million residents experiencing acute food insecurity. The head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) has warned that famine is looming in Gaza, as humanitarian aid struggles to reach the northern part of the enclave.
Philippe Lazzarini, head of UNRWA, stated that food aid has not been delivered to northern Gaza since January 23. He claimed that Israel has been delaying deliveries, while Israeli authorities deny these allegations as they prepare to report to the International Criminal Court of Justice on their efforts to prevent suffering in Gaza.
Lazzarini expressed frustration at the lack of access for humanitarian aid amid ongoing hostilities between Israel and Hamas, noting that calls for food distribution have been ignored. The UN official warned of a “looming famine” in Gaza, describing the situation as a “man-made disaster.”
According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, at least 500,000 people in Gaza are facing famine, with the entire population experiencing food insecurity. Reports have surfaced of a two-month-old Palestinian boy dying of starvation.
Obstacles to aid delivery include Israeli control of Gaza’s border crossings, limited entry points, and delays in checking procedures for trucks. Right-wing Israeli protesters have obstructed aid convoys, and the flow of aid trucks has significantly decreased since the start of the conflict.
Despite Israel denying allegations of obstructing aid deliveries, Human Rights Watch criticizes the government for not complying with the ICJ’s order to increase humanitarian aid to Gaza. UN chief Antonio Guterres warns against a full-scale Israeli military operation in Rafah, stating that it would further impact aid programs in Gaza.