The famine in Gaza is “entirely man-made” and can be “halted and reversed”, but it requires an “immediate, at-scale response” to do so, the Famine Review Committee of the United Nations’ Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) says according to Al Jazeera.

“The time for debate and hesitation has passed, starvation is present and is rapidly spreading,” the committee said in a report.

“There should be no doubt in anyone’s mind that an immediate, at-scale response is needed. Any further delay — even by days — will result in a totally unacceptable escalation of famine-related mortality.”

The report also warned that avoidable deaths would “increase exponentially” unless a ceasefire was implemented to allow in humanitarian aid and restore the delivery of food and basic supplies to Gaza’s population immediately.