Has 500,000 people in the Gaza Strip, or one in five Palestinians, face starvation.
A recent report by the United Nations Integrated Food Security Stages (IPC) shows that the rest of the population suffers from high levels of acute food insecurity.
“The risk of hunger in the Gaza Strip is not only possible, it’s becoming more and more likely,” says IPC.
For more than 73 days, Israel has warned that all food, water and medicines have entered Gaza, causing an artificial crisis, and that hunger can be declared at any time from now until September.
What is hunger and when do you reach it?
Hunger is the worst level of hunger, and people face severe food shortages, widespread malnutrition and high levels of death from starvation.
According to UN standards, hunger is declared when:
At least 20% (one fifth) of children face extreme food shortages. Over 30% of children die from hunger or hunger-related causes, at least two out of 10,000 children, or four out of 10,000 children.
Hunger isn’t just about hunger. It is the worst humanitarian emergency, indicating a complete disruption of access to food, water and systems needed for survival.
At least 57 children have died from the effects of malnutrition since the complete Israeli lockdown began on March 2nd, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
What does hunger do to the body?
Israel uses hunger as a weapon of war. A report released this week by global physicians (Medecins du Monde) said in just 18 months that acute malnutrition in Gaza has risen to similar levels as seen in countries that are enduring decades of long-term humanitarian crises.
Star is when the human body is being taken away from food for a long time, so it is when it suffers and often dies.
Estimates show that the body can last up to three weeks without food, but the length of time varies between individuals.
Starvation occurs in three stages. The first begins as soon as the meal is skipped, and the second occurs over a long period of fasting, in which the body uses stored fat for energy.
The third, often fatal stage is when all preserved fat is depleted and the body transforms into bones and muscles as a source of energy.
Impact on children
Children are most vulnerable to the ongoing lockdown of essentially Israeli food products.
More than 9,000 children have been hospitalized since the beginning of the year to treat acute malnutrition, according to the United Nations.
The IPC predicts that between now and March 2026, nearly 71,000 children under the age of five will suffer from acute malnutrition.
Although the effects of malnutrition on children vary, the first 1,000 days of a child’s life, including pregnancy, are important for the child’s healthy development.
Malnutrition leads to proportional height-to-weight ratios, stunting and ultimately death.
Earlier this month, Dr Ahmed Abu Nasir at Kamal Adwan Hospital in Beit Rahiya, northern Gaza, said the situation had worsened than ever due to the lockdown.
“Children are in the growing stage and need certain nutrients, including protein and fats,” the pediatrician told Al Jazeera. “These are not available in the Gaza Strip, particularly in the northern part of the country.”
Pregnant and breastfeeding women also need to be treated for malnutrition, with 17,000 women facing this risk.
“Finding a single meal has become an impossible quest.”
The entire population of Gaza, about 2.1 million remaining, faces a level of food shortage that threatens their presence.
Earlier this month, Gaza city displaced Ahmad al-Nazar told Al Jazeera that “finding one meal is an impossible quest.”
Despite the numerous trucks carrying important supplies stacking up the border between Egypt and the Gaza Strip, Palestinians in Gaza have resorted to selling trash to offer spectacular, inflated food prices.
Approximately 93% of Gaza’s population is at risk of food insecurity levels above the crisis levels indicated by the IPC. If the situation remains the same, the IPC shows that of these 2.1 million people.
470,000 people (22% of the population) face catastrophic levels of food insecurity. This is the most serious stage of showing hunger, leading to starvation and death. Over a million people (54%) face emergency levels of food insecurity. This is the second most serious stage at a high risk of serious malnutrition. 500,000 people (24%) face a crisis level of food instability. This is the third most serious IPC stage dealing with inconsistent food consumption, where households rely on extreme measures to secure food.
Essentially, in a month or so, the entire population of Gaza could be starving.
The characteristics of malnutrition and starvation are unmistakable in Gaza, with severely weightless children and babies. In children, severe protein deficiency causes fluid retention and swelling abdomen.
Where in Gaza is the most at risk?
Food insecurity throughout the Gaza Strip has had a serious impact on all areas of the enclave that are blocked.
All 25 bakeries supported by the World Food Program (WFP) were all closed in early April due to shortages of supplies, and most food stocks in the 177 hot meal kitchens have reportedly been exhausted.
Certain governors are experiencing a more serious level of hunger. According to IPC:
Thirty percent of North Gaza face catastrophic levels of food insecurity, with 60% facing emergency levels, while 10% facing crisis levels. 25% of Rafa face catastrophic levels of food insecurity, 60% face emergency levels and 15% face crisis levels.
The IPC says that Israel’s continued lockdown will “have a high chance of causing further massive displacement within and across the governor” as items essential to the survival of the people will be exhausted.
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