In a surprising turn of events, the UN Commission on Hunger and Food Security has announced that there is no evidence of famine in the Gaza Strip. This declaration contradicts previous findings from multiple governmental and non-governmental organizations, but aligns with the stance of the Israeli government on the matter. The report was presented to UN Secretary-General António Guterres over a week ago, but only came to light recently.
Some analysts believe that the delay in making the report public may be due to its differing conclusions from the narrative often portrayed by the UN Secretary-General regarding Israeli actions in Gaza. However, it is important to note that Israel has been allowing a significant amount of food aid into the region. Prior to recent developments, 70 trucks per day were permitted, and this number has since increased to 125 trucks per day since March. In total, 17,400 trucks carrying humanitarian aid have been delivered to Gaza since the start of hostilities.
Despite these efforts, however, it is clear that more measures need to be taken to ensure continued access to food for residents of Gaza. The Commission’s report highlights a food security scale that ranges from no food security issues at all to famine. While the situation in Gaza is far from ideal, it is not yet at level 5 famine. To prevent future crises and ensure long-term stability in the region, additional steps must be taken immediately.
