Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC)

Why in News?

• United Nations officially declared a famine in Gaza – the first in West Asia.
• 500,000 people in Gaza governorate (≈ one-fifth of the territory, incl. Gaza City) facing catastrophic hunger.

Key Points

1. Declaration Basis → Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) analysis.
2. UN finding → Famine preventable, but food aid blocked due to systematic obstruction by Israel.
3. IPC Famine Thresholds (all must be breached):
   • ≥ 20% of households with extreme food deprivation.
   • Acute malnutrition > 30% in children under 5.
   • Starvation-related deaths: crude death rate ≥ 2 deaths / 10,000 people / day.
4. IPC Initiative:
   • Launched 2004.
   • Global partnership of 21 orgs + intergovernmental institutions.
   • Sets internationally recognised standards for food security & malnutrition crises.
   • Accepted reference tool worldwide.

Implications

• First famine in West Asia, adding a major humanitarian & political dimension to the Israel–Palestine conflict.
• Reinforces importance of humanitarian corridors & global governance of food aid.

(Source; UN)