On the IPC’s new warning that “the worst-case scenario of famine is currently playing out in the Gaza Strip,” Islamic Relief Canada says:    

The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification's (IPC) new alert confirms the inhumane scenes our staff and partners in Gaza are witnessing every day – famine is taking hold and people are being starved to death.  

This suffering is entirely man-made. It’s caused by Israel’s relentless attacks and cruel blockade that stops food, medicine and essential supplies from reaching starving people, and by world leaders’ shameful failure to take action.  

Airdrops and so-called ‘tactical pauses’ will not stop famine unfolding and are merely a superficial illusion of action while people starve. Despite the international outcry in recent days, Israeli forces continue to obstruct aid and hardly any new supplies are reaching the most vulnerable people. Islamic Relief aid workers on the ground describe people “like zombies who can barely walk because they’re so weak from hunger.”  

The only way for Canada and international governments to stop this man-made famine is to urgently increase pressure on Israel and demand it fully stops the bombing, ends its blockade and allows full, unimpeded and sustained humanitarian access into and within Gaza. All land crossings must be entirely reopened and kept open. Canada must take concrete action, including through the halting of the transfer of weapons and ammunition to Israel, and through the suspension of trade agreements.

The world is already too late to stop dozens of people dying from starvation, and thousands more from being killed, but now it must act immediately to save more lives. Many more people will die unless huge quantities of aid are allowed to be distributed in the next few days. Failure to apply meaningful pressure means being complicit as famine spreads. Canada’s response must finally rise to meet the urgency and morality of this moment.