The ongoing Israeli genocide against Palestinians in Gaza has derailed any humanitarian effort to avert a famine in parts of the battered territory, most notably northern Gaza, with senior aid officials describing an “incredible level of desperation” as food supplies run out.

“In most cases, when food does get taken directly from convoys, it’s because of utter desperation, with people even eating it on the spot,” said Jonathan Fowler, a spokesperson for the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), as reported by The Guardian.

Aid organizations reported that there might be localized "pockets of famine" in Gaza, as hundreds of thousands of families reside in the remnants of their destroyed residences with minimal functioning infrastructure.

“We’ve had to make the impossible choice to pause aid distributions in northern Gaza. There’s an incredible level of desperation against the backdrop of immense humanitarian need. A famine doesn’t have to happen. But if things don’t change, it will,” said Cindy McCain, the WFP’s executive director, in a post on X.

We’ve had to make the impossible choice to pause aid distributions in Northern Gaza. There’s an incredible level of desperation against the backdrop of immense humanitarian need.

🔗https://t.co/DeNi8hiwhS

A famine doesn’t have to happen. But if things don’t change, it will. pic.twitter.com/2WLjDXwToJ

— Cindy McCain (@WFPChief) February 21, 2024

A significant number of people in the region are now surviving on flatbread prepared over open fires, with severely restricted access to essentials like salt, fresh vegetables, oil, and fruit.

Aid organizations express concerns that a ground offensive has the potential to transform Rafah, currently filled with densely populated shelters and makeshift tents, into a tragic site.

Israeli occupation warplanes targeted an UNRWA installation in Jabalia refugee camp, northern Gaza Strip during a gathering of citizens who were trying to get food. pic.twitter.com/uKx0S3c6qW

— PALESTINE ONLINE 🇵🇸 (@OnlinePalEng) February 22, 2024

“Aid piling up at the crossing is evidence of an absence of this enabling environment amidst enormous needs,” said Eri Kaneko, a spokesperson for the UN humanitarian affairs office.

Aid authorities reported that from January 1 to February 15, 77 missions were scheduled to provide aid to the northern Gaza Strip. Out of these, the UN noted that "12 were approved by Israeli authorities, three were partially assisted, 14 faced obstacles, 39 were denied access, and nine were delayed."

Recent UN data indicate a significant decrease in aid shipments reaching Gaza. Before the current Israeli aggression, Gaza depended on 500 trucks of supplies entering daily, and even during intense Israeli bombing in January, approximately 200 aid trucks managed to get through on most days. However, starting from February 9, the daily average plummeted to only 57 trucks. On seven out of the 12 days, 20 or fewer trucks were able to make it through, with only four trucks on February 17.

One in six north Gaza children under 2 acutely malnourished: Guterres

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres stated that in northern Gaza, one out of every six children under the age of two is severely malnourished. He urged for an "urgent humanitarian ceasefire," emphasizing it as the sole means to enhance the distribution of aid to those in dire need.

In north Gaza, 1 in 6 children under 2 years old is acutely malnourished.

An immediate humanitarian ceasefire is the only way to scale up the delivery of aid to those who need it most.https://t.co/rjX0NoKwSK pic.twitter.com/z4eVdMlfb8

— António Guterres (@antonioguterres) February 21, 2024

In a post on X, he shared a link to a news release on the World Food Programme website. The release highlighted that, based on a detailed new analysis from the Global Nutrition Cluster, there is a significant increase in malnutrition rates among children, as well as pregnant and breastfeeding women in the Gaza Strip, posing serious health risks.

My cousin in northern Gaza paid $95 for this plate of food to feed his wife who gave birth a few days ago. pic.twitter.com/eUieOqShor

— Yousef D. Hammash (@YousefHammash) February 22, 2024

The report also underscores the shortage of food and access to clean water. Additionally, it notes that diseases are widespread, undermining the nutritional and immune health of women and children and leading to a significant increase in cases of acute malnutrition.
 
 Read next: MSF, Amnesty, others accuse 'Israel' of impeding aid delivery in Gaza