WFP: Northern Gaza Still 'Heading toward Famine'

A senior official from the World Food Program has warned that northern Gaza is at risk of famine, despite some improvement in the volume of aid getting into the area.

Carl Skau, the World Food Program deputy executive director, stated that they are still heading towards famine and haven't seen the paradigm shift that is required to avert a famine. He added that they need more volume, predictability, and a sustained effort to get more diverse assistance into the north, including nutritional supplements and ready-to-eat meals.

In the past three weeks, WFP has seen some progress in getting aid convoys into northern Gaza, which has been largely cut off from aid distribution since the war between Israel and Hamas started in October. However, seven to 12 WFP food trucks are crossing into northern Gaza every two to three days, which is far from enough. Skau said that they need to get to at least 30 trucks per day, and they need to do it every day.

In Washington, a memorial was held at the National Cathedral to honor the seven World Central Kitchen aid workers who were killed in Israeli airstrikes on April 1. Chef Jose Andres, who founded the charity, said they were in Gaza so that hungry people could eat. He called them the best of humanity and their examples should inspire us to do better and be better.

Andres has said they were deliberately targeted and has called for an investigation.