GAZA (Dispatches) – The 
Famine Early Warning System Network (FEWS NET) has warned that a famine is likely unfolding in besieged Northern Gaza, including in Jabalia, Beit Lahiya and Beit Hanoon, as the Zionist regime continues its near-total blockade of humanitarian and commercial food supplies to the region.
The U.S.-created food crisis monitor also said that if the Zionist regime keeps up the blockade that it began on October 5, deaths from starvation could pass famine levels as early as next month.
FEWS NET uses a scale developed by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) to assess famine. The IPC has a five-tier classification system, and Phase 5 is the most extreme level.
“Based on the collapse of the food system and worsening access to water, sanitation, and health services in these areas […] it is highly likely that the food consumption and acute malnutrition thresholds for Famine (IPC Phase 5) have now been surpassed in North Gaza Governorate,” FEWS NET said.
“In the absence of a change to Israeli policy on the entry of food and nutrition supplies to this area, FEWS NET expects non-trauma mortality levels will pass the Famine (IPC Phase 5) threshold between January and March 2025, with at least 2-15 people dying per day,” it added.
It said its analysis of World Food Programme (WFP) reports suggests no food entered besieged areas of the North Gaza governorate between October 2 and 31, while only 130-135 metric tonnes of food successfully entered in November.
The latter amount is estimated to cover less than 5 percent of food needs among the population that was estimated to be in North Gaza at that time, it said.
Then on December 20, an additional 80-85 metric tonnes of food reportedly reached 800 people in Beit Hanoun, it said.
FEWS NET, citing UN estimates, says some 10,000 to 15,000 people are thought to remain trapped in Northern Gaza.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) also stated that the Zionist regime authorities have denied 48 of 52 attempts by the United Nations to coordinate humanitarian access to Northern Gaza, while the four that received approval still faced impediments.
In its latest Gaza situation report, OCHA also reported that patients with treatable illnesses were dying in the enclave because of “depleted medical supplies and lack of life-saving equipment”.
Israel has blockaded and hampered the entry of food, water, medical and other essential supplies to the Gaza Strip since launching its war on the Palestinian territory in October 2023, which has now killed more than 45,300 people.