Gaza may cross threshold of starvation, food insecurity, malnutrition and death in six weeks. This is predicted by Gian Caro Ciri, director of the World Food Program (WFP), reports "Reuters".
"We are getting closer to a situation of starvation with each passing day," he warned.
"There is evidence that all three hunger thresholds - food insecurity, malnutrition and mortality - will be crossed in the next six weeks.
A UN-backed report published in March said famine was imminent, likely to occur by May in northern Gaza and could spread to the enclave by July. Yesterday, an American official reported that the risk of starvation in Gaza, especially in the north, is very high.
Ciri made the announcement at the launch of a report by the Global Food Crisis Network, an alliance of humanitarian actors such as UN agencies, the World Bank, the European Union and the United States.
In its report, the network described the 2024 outlook for the Middle East and Africa as extremely worrying due to the war in Gaza and limited humanitarian access, as well as the risk of escalation of conflict in the region.
"As for Gaza, the conflict makes it difficult and sometimes impossible to reach the affected people," said Ciri.
"We need to significantly increase our aid. But under the current conditions, I fear that the situation will worsen even more.
The UN has long complained of obstacles to the delivery and distribution of aid to Gaza in the six months since Israel launched an air and ground offensive against "Hamas".
Israel denies obstructing the delivery of humanitarian aid and blames aid agencies for inefficiency in distribution.
Israel's military campaign devastated much of the enclave of 2.3 million people and caused a humanitarian catastrophe.
Ciri said the only way to avoid starvation in Gaza is to ensure immediate and daily food supplies.
"They sell off their belongings to buy food. Most of the time they experience deprivation. And apparently some of them are dying of hunger," he pointed out regarding the Palestinians in Gaza.