And, “Analysis of food insecurity, malnutrition, and mortality has been severely hampered by lack of physical access to affected populations. It is the responsibility of the controlling authorities to ensure that access is opened not only for humanitarian response but also for accurate, reliable, and representative assessment of the current humanitarian situation. In the meantime, given the high level of uncertainty regarding the drivers of famine, the FRC recommends very close monitoring of the assumptions used for the projections in this analysis and close attention to trends in outcomes, as these may shift quickly. The FRC strongly recommends the triggering of a re-analysis of the current status should the primary drivers or trends in outcomes change significantly, and no later than the end of September 2024.
The FRC encourages all stakeholders who use the IPC for high-level decision-making to understand that whether a Famine classification is confirmed or not does not in any manner change the fact that extreme human suffering is without a doubt currently ongoing in the Gaza Strip, and does not change the immediate humanitarian imperative to address this civilian suffering by enabling complete, safe, unhindered, and sustained humanitarian access into and throughout the Gaza Strip, including through ceasing hostilities. All actors should not wait until a Famine classification is made to act accordingly.”