German Development Minister Reem Alabali Radovan has called for significantly more aid to reach the Gaza Strip, after an international food security authority formally declared famine in part of the territory for the first time, reported dpa.
The report by the UN-backed Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) clearly shows the catastrophic situation in Gaza, Alabali Radovan said.
"More and more people – especially children – are starving to death before our eyes. This cannot go on. The famine is entirely man-made," she said.
The IPC confirmed famine in Gaza Governorate, an administrative region which includes Gaza City, on Friday.
A famine is formally declared when three criteria are met: At least 20% of households face extreme food shortages, at least 30% of children suffer from acute malnutrition, and at least two adults or four children per 10,000 inhabitants die every day from hunger or from a combination of malnutrition and disease.
"Access to aid deliveries has improved slightly, but the IPC report also shows that this is far from enough. An immediate ceasefire is needed, and at the same time, Hamas must release the hostages immediately and unconditionally," Alabali Radovan added.
Source: www.dailyfinland.fi
