GENEVA, Oct 17 (KUNA) -- The World Health Organization on Thursday classified the entire Gaza Strip in Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) Phase 4 (Emergency level) and warned that the risk of famine remains imminent as the war continues to escalate.
In a statement released from Geneva, WHO raised alarm over the deteriorating situation stating that after a year of conflict the intensification of the war acute malnutrition rates have surged to ten times higher than before the escalation of the war adding that the number of people facing catastrophic conditions (IPC Phase 5) could nearly triple by early 2025.
WHO said that nearly 2 million people (over 90 percent of Gaza's population) are expected to be in IPC Phase 3 (Crisis) or higher with 345.000 people in IPC Phase 5 (Catastrophe) and 876.000 in IPC Phase 4 (Emergency) by April 2025.
It also reported that around 1.84 million people in Gaza are suffering during this year from acute food insecurity with 133 thousand people facing catastrophic conditions (IPC Phase 5) and 664 thousand in IPC Phase 4 (Emergency).
WHO stated that the ongoing violence has displaced nearly 2 million people destroyed 70 percent of Gaza's agricultural lands and crippled food systems leaving the population in a critical state.
Nearly the entire population of Gaza has been displaced multiple times often amid ongoing shelling and airstrikes most are living in overcrowded makeshift camps with densities reaching up to 40.000 people per square kilometer.
WHO emphasized that September saw the lowest volume of supplies entering Gaza since March 2024 adding that this significant decline is expected to severely limit food availability and access to basic services in the coming months. (end) imk.ibi