Geneva: The United Nations on Friday issued a grave warning that every resident in Gaza is now at risk of famine, calling the Palestinian enclave “the hungriest place on Earth”.

Jens Laerke, spokesperson for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), told reporters in Geneva that Gaza is the only place globally where 100 percent of the population faces famine-level food insecurity. "It's the only defined area — a country or defined territory within a country — where you have the entire population at risk of famine," Laerke said. He dismissed counterclaims from Israeli authorities, saying the situation is “unprecedented”.

The warning comes as diplomatic efforts to end nearly 20 months of war have failed to yield results. A six-week ceasefire collapsed in March when Israel resumed military operations in Gaza.

Israel had imposed a total aid blockade on Gaza from March 2, contributing to catastrophic shortages of food, medicine and other essentials. Although this blockade has been partially eased in recent days, humanitarian deliveries remain critically obstructed.

According to OCHA, Israel has authorised 900 aid trucks to enter Gaza since the partial lifting of restrictions. However, only 600 trucks have been offloaded, and an even smaller number have been distributed, hindered by complex and dangerous conditions on the ground.

"This limited number of truckloads that are coming in... it's a trickle," Laerke said, likening it to "drip-feeding food" into a desperate population. He described the humanitarian effort as “in an operational strait-jacket”, calling it “one of the most obstructed aid operations not only in the world today, but in recent history”.

The warning underscores growing international concern over the deteriorating humanitarian conditions in Gaza, where starvation and disease are reportedly spreading rapidly due to limited access to food, clean water and healthcare.

With no breakthrough in sight, aid agencies continue to call for unimpeded access to the territory and a durable ceasefire to prevent a large-scale famine.
(With AFP inputs)