A UN-backed report has said famine is imminent and likely to occur in the next two months in northern Gaza after more than five months of fighting which have shattered the Palestinian territory, killed thousands and cut off supplies, Reuters reports.

Across the whole of the besieged enclave, the number of people at risk of “catastrophic hunger” has risen to 1.1 million, about half the population, the report by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) said.

The assessment by the UN-backed initiative comes amid global pressure on Israel to allow more humanitarian aid into the enclave of 2.3 million people.

“Famine is now projected and imminent in the North Gaza and Gaza Governorates and is expected to become manifest during the projection period from mid-March 2024 to May 2024,” it said.

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