US official agrees that famine is occurring in parts of Gaza amidst Israel-Hamas war
Concerns mount over the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza
Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development Samantha Power has affirmed that famine is already taking place in parts of Gaza as the conflict between Israel and Hamas rages on. Her acknowledgement of the situation, which US officials have previously warned about, is expected to intensify pressure on the Biden administration to impose restrictions on military aid to Israel. The situation also led President Joe Biden to prompt Israeli officials to take immediate action to alleviate the dire humanitarian conditions in Gaza, further hinting at potential policy shifts.
US officials express growing concerns over the humanitarian situation
The ongoing Israel-Hamas war has raised concerns about the imminent risk of famine in the war-torn Gaza Strip. While US officials have consistently sounded alarms, Samantha Power is the first high-ranking official to publicly acknowledge the occurrence of famine. Her remarks come in response to a mid-March assessment by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), an analysis that Power’s experts have deemed credible. The IPC’s findings convey that famine is imminent in northern Gaza and is projected to happen between mid-March and May 2024, further underlining the urgency of the situation.
Implications for US policy and aid
Samantha Power’s agreement that famine is already happening in parts of Gaza is set to fuel additional demands for the US government to impose restrictions on military aid to Israel. The Foreign Assistance Act prohibits assisting any country that impedes the delivery of US humanitarian aid. As President Biden and other key administration officials insist that Israel urgently address the dire situation, Secretary of State Antony Blinken stressed that the results and sustained efforts in providing humanitarian assistance will be closely monitored.
Congressional inquiry highlights worrisome situation
At a congressional hearing, Democratic Representative Joaquin Castro brought attention to a HuffPost report featuring a USAID cable warning of the likelihood of famine in Gaza. Castro asked Power whether it was plausible that parts of Gaza, particularly the northern region, were already experiencing famine. Power, referencing the IPC assessment reviewed by her experts, confirmed that famine is indeed occurring in Gaza. The gravity of the situation is further evident in the IPC’s declaration that around 70% of the population in Gaza, approximately 210,000 people, are classified in IPC Phase 5 “Catastrophe.”
Dire conditions exacerbate malnutrition and child deaths
Samantha Power expressed her concern over the escalating malnutrition rates in northern Gaza. Prior to October 7, the rate of malnutrition among children in that area was almost zero, but it has now surged to one in three. Power emphasized that the insufficient flow of food has resulted in the already dire situation where child deaths are increasing, particularly in the north of Gaza. The spokesperson further underscored the administration’s focus on increasing food and nutritional interventions throughout Gaza in response to the deteriorating conditions.
