Palestinian NGOs urge UN to declare 'famine zone' in Gaza

Palestinian non-governmental organisations (NGOs) are calling on the United Nations and the Palestinian government in Ramallah to immediately declare a "famine zone" in Gaza, according to a Facebook post published Monday. 

The post, published on the page of the Palestinian NGO Network, known as PNGO, points to the UN Famine Review Committee’s recent alert, which warns that ‎the situation in northern Gaza is critical and rapidly deteriorating, demanding urgent ‎action.‎

"PNGO confirms that the Israeli occupation continues to prevent the entry of essential ‎food, medical supplies, and water into northernGaza and severely limits access to aid ‎across the rest of the Gaza Strip, allowing only 30 aid trucks daily; a fraction that meets ‎just 6% of the region's essential needs.‎" 

PNGO was established in September 1993, after the signing of the Oslo Accords, with the objective of enhancing coordination, consultation and cooperation among the different sectors of civil society. It comprises 133 organisations working in different developmental fields.