In brief
In the midst of famine confirmed in Gaza City, Rida Hijjeh shares the heartbreaking story of her five-year-old daughter, Lamia, who has lost 8.5 kg and struggles to walk. The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification recently upgraded the situation to Phase 5, indicating severe food insecurity in the region. While Israel denies ongoing starvation, the humanitarian crisis intensifies.
In a heart-wrenching account, Rida Hijjeh shared with the BBC that her five-year-old daughter, Lamia Hijjeh, has lost nearly half of her body weight due to the famine in Gaza City. Rida reported that Lamia has lost 8.5 kg and is unable to walk, as her family has faced multiple displacements during the ongoing war.
The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) recently elevated its assessment to Phase 5, marking the highest level of acute food insecurity. According to the IPC, famine conditions have been confirmed in the Gaza Governorate, which encompasses Gaza City and the surrounding areas. Alarmingly, 'catastrophic conditions' are projected to spread to Deir al-Balah and Khan Younis by the end of September.
Despite these alarming reports, Israeli officials have refuted claims of starvation in Gaza. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the IPC’s assessment as an 'outright lie', intensifying tensions amid a dire humanitarian crisis.
For those wishing to explore this issue further, read more on this story.
