The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) has declared a famine in Gaza, despite reported daily death tolls that fall significantly short of the criteria set forth by the organization. This announcement comes amid ongoing conflict in the region, which has seen a surge in casualties.
According to Hamas, the daily death toll in the Gaza Strip over the past week has been as follows: 51 on August 15, 70 on August 16, 47 on August 17, 60 on August 18, 60 on August 19, 58 on August 20, and 70 on August 21. These figures include deaths from warfare and do not approach the IPC's famine threshold, which requires a crude death rate of at least 2 non-trauma deaths per 10,000 people per day, or 4 per 10,000 among children under five.
Given Gaza City’s estimated population of 400,000 to 800,000, the IPC would expect to see around 80 to 160 starvation-related deaths daily if famine conditions were genuinely present. However, the recent death tolls indicate that the situation, while dire, does not reflect the catastrophic levels associated with famine.
The declaration raises questions about the IPC's criteria and the implications for international aid efforts. As the situation evolves, further scrutiny of the IPC's assessment may be warranted. For more on related coverage, see our report on the EU Parliament's recent developments.
