UN warns entire Gaza population could face famine within weeks

The entire population of Gaza could fall into famine within just a few weeks unless food deliveries to the enclave are drastically increased, Carl Skau, Deputy Executive Director of the UN World Food Programme (WFP), said in an interview with Canadian broadcaster CBC.

“Previously, the UN confirmed that only part of Gaza’s population was suffering from hunger, but if the situation continues for a few more weeks, the entire enclave will face famine,” Skau said.

According to him, about 100 trucks carrying food currently enter Gaza each day. “That is just a drop in the ocean, given that we are talking about 2.2 million people. We must significantly scale up aid deliveries to overcome this famine, as we did during the ceasefire in February and March, when an average of 600–700 trucks entered daily,” the UN official added.

The warning comes days after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed there is no famine in Gaza, saying: “Now we have got thousands and thousands of photographs throughout the war, including in recent times. You won’t see a single emaciated person there.”