U.N.-Backed Panel Warns Action Needed in ‘Days, Not Weeks’ to Avert Gaza Famine

A U.N.-backed panel has issued a stark warning that urgent action is needed in “days, not weeks” to avert a looming famine in Gaza. The panel, which includes experts from the U.N. World Food Programme, the Food and Agriculture Organization, and the U.N. Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, has sounded the alarm on the dire situation in the besieged Palestinian territory.

The panel’s warning comes as Gaza faces a perfect storm of crises, including a severe lack of food, water, and medical supplies, as well as ongoing violence and political instability. The situation has been exacerbated by a blockade imposed by Israel and Egypt, which has severely restricted the flow of goods and people into and out of Gaza.

According to the panel, over 1.2 million people in Gaza are currently facing food insecurity, with many relying on humanitarian aid to survive. The situation is particularly dire for children, with malnutrition rates among Gaza’s children reaching alarming levels.

The panel has called on the international community to take immediate action to address the crisis in Gaza. This includes lifting the blockade, increasing humanitarian aid, and providing support for essential services such as health care and education. Without urgent intervention, the panel warns that Gaza could face a full-blown famine in the coming days.

The situation in Gaza is a stark reminder of the ongoing humanitarian crisis facing the Palestinian people, who have endured decades of conflict, displacement, and economic hardship. The U.N.-backed panel’s warning should serve as a wake-up call to the international community to take immediate action to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza.

As the panel’s experts have emphasized, time is of the essence. The people of Gaza cannot afford to wait any longer for help. It is incumbent upon the international community to act swiftly and decisively to avert a famine in Gaza and provide much-needed relief to its beleaguered population. The time to act is now.