GAZA CITY: The world’s leading authority on food crises said Friday the Gaza Strip’s largest city is gripped by famine, and that it’s likely to spread across the territory without a ceasefire and an end to restrictions on humanitarian aid. The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, or IPC, said famine is happening in Gaza City, home to hundreds of thousands of Palestinians, and could spread south to Deir Al-Balah and Khan Younis by the end of next month.

The international body responsible for monitoring world hunger will officially declare famine in Gaza City for the first time, it has been reported.

The system for classifying food insecurity has been used to declare just four famines since it was established in 2004