The United States has criticized a new report on food security in the Gaza Strip, saying it was “irresponsible” and relied on outdated data. The report, released by the Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS Net), found that famine was likely to occur in part of northern Gaza.
The US embassy in Israel’s diplomat, Jack Lew, accused the report of being based on inaccurate population data, which would require fewer resources to support the remaining civilians. He cited two different sets of data, including one from the UN and another from Israeli authorities, which estimated a significantly lower number of people living in the area.
However, the UN agency for coordination of humanitarian affairs (OCHA) said that humanitarian supplies were insufficient to support the remaining civilians. It accused Israeli authorities of denying access to the area and expressed alarm over violence near hospitals.
The conflict in Gaza has resulted in widespread displacement and difficulty tracking civilians, making it challenging to assess the situation accurately. The report’s findings have fueled controversy and raised questions about data collection and humanitarian efforts in the region.
Israel claims that its military actions are aimed at mitigating civilian harm, but critics argue that such attacks contribute to civilian deaths. Authorities in Gaza do not distinguish between civilian and combatant deaths, which has made it difficult to determine the true extent of the situation.
The US criticism has highlighted the complexities of data collection and humanitarian efforts in Gaza, where the international community’s understanding of the situation is constantly evolving.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/25/world/middleeast/northern-gaza-famine-warning-dispute.html