The number of people facing catastrophic levels of food insecurity in Gaza is expected to triple in the next six months, according to the UN.

Its humanitarian affairs office, OCHA, said 60,000 children aged five months to five years will suffer from acute malnutrition in the coming year.

Nearly 133,000 people are catastrophically food insecure and 664,000 people are facing emergency levels of food insecurity, the report said.

“Whether people are on the brink of starvation or in starvation, they are in absolutely desperate conditions and this is entirely man-made,” said Sam Rose, senior deputy director of UNRWA, the humanitarian agency. United Nations for Palestinian Refugees.

Last month, the amount of commercial and humanitarian goods entering Gaza was at its lowest level since March, which is expected to have “dramatic consequences” during the winter months, according to OCHA.

Between October 1 and 21, of 448 planned aid movements across Gaza requiring coordination with the Israeli military, 45% were refused, 36% were facilitated, 15% were obstructed and 4% were canceled due to logistical and security problems, according to the United Nations agency. said.

Only six percent of the aid destined for northern Gaza via the Al Rashid checkpoint was facilitated by Israeli authorities.