GAZA STRIP  –  A high risk of famine persists in Gaza and the situation “remains catastrophic” as the war between Israel and Hamas continues, according to a report released by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC).

“A high risk of famine persists across the whole of the Gaza Strip as long as conflict continues and humanitarian access is restricted,” the report said. “Only the cessation of hostilities in conjunction with sustained humanitarian access to the entire Gaza Strip can reduce the risk of a famine occurring in the Gaza Strip.”

The report projects that 96% of the population of Gaza – more than 2 million people – will face crisis, emergency, or catastrophic levels of food insecurity through at least the end of September. Nearly half a million are projected to face catastrophic levels, the most severe level on the IPC scale where people “experience an extreme lack of food, starvation, and exhaustion of coping capacities.”

“Given the unpredictability of the ongoing conflict and humanitarian access challenges, any significant change may lead to a very rapid deterioration into Famine,” the report said.

“The last few months have demonstrated that food and humanitarian access and malnutrition prevalence can change very quickly, the risk of epidemics is increasing and eight months of extreme pressure on the lives of the population make them much more vulnerable to collapse into famine,” said the report, compiled by the IPC’s Famine Review Committee.

The findings of the report echo testimonies from those on the ground about the dire humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza. Nearly nine months of Israel’s bombardment and siege have depleted the health care system, battered water infrastructure and created dire conditions for the entire population of more than 2.2 million people.

Increased Israeli attacks in the southern city of Rafah have triggered mass displacement and an outbreak of infectious diseases in the sprawling tent camps where people cannot access basic sanitation. With no signs of an imminent ceasefire being agreed to stop the fighting, relief workers say the suffering of civilians on the ground will only get worse.

“The latest data shows that, to be able to purchase food, more than half of the households had to exchange their clothes for money and one third resorted to picking up trash to sell,” the report detailed in its “special snapshot.” “More than half also reported that, often, they do not have any food to eat in the house, and over 20 percent go entire days and nights without eating.” (CNN)

Photo: The mother of Amjed Al-Qanooa, 3, who suffers from severe malnutrition, shows the pills prescribed for her son in the Jabalia camp in northern Gaza. (AFP) …[+]

KYIV  –  Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has dimissed a top general after public criticism about excessive casualties and accusations of incompetence. Lieutenant General Yuriy Sodol had been in the post of commander of the Joint Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine since earlier this year. Brig Gen Andriy Hnatov has now been appointed in his stead.

Mr Zelensky did not give a reason for his decision, which he announced during his nightly video address. However, only hours before, the chief of staff of the Azov Brigade, Maj Bohdan Krotevych, filed a complaint to the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI), alleging that Gen Sodol “had more Ukrainian soldiers killed than any Russian general”.

Maj Krotevych wrote on Telegram that Gen Sodol was “not being investigated for the loss of regions and dozens of cities and the loss of thousands of soldiers”. “Sometimes it seems to me that the world sends us scum [to fight against] in order to unite us,” Maj Krotevych wrote. “And the whole military understand who I’m talking about because 99% of the military hate him for what he does.”

Maj Krotevych’s post on Telegram was viewed over 800,000 times. He later praised the appointment of Gen Hnatov, saying he was a “very worthy officer”. Following Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, Gen Sodol took part in the defence of the city of Mariupol and battles near the eastern Ukrainian town of Volnovakha. Both locations are now under Russian control.

Gen Sodol was made commander of the Joint Forces since February 2024, when Oleksandr Syrskyy was appointed commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces. Ukraine’s military hierarchy has undergone considerable changes in recent months, as Russian forces make slow but steady advances in the east of the country.

Since the beginning of 2024, Kyiv’s under-resourced forces have been struggling to hold the line. Meanwhile, Ukrainian forces have in recent months upped their attacks on Russian territory. Kyiv has carried out multiple attacks on Russian oil refineries this year, arguing they are fair targets as they fuel Moscow’s military. And Moscow blamed Ukraine for a missile strike on occupied Crimea last Sunday, which officials say killed four people and injured over 100 more. (BBC)

Photo: Lieutenant General Yurii Sodol. (HB) …[+]

KENYA- The Internet monitoring site NetBlocks has reported that there is a “major disruption” to internet connectivity in Kenya on Tuesday, following widespread protests in the country that include the breaching of the Kenyan Parliament.

“The incident comes amidst a deadly crackdown by police on #RejectFinanceBill2024 protesters a day after authorities claimed there would be no internet shutdown,” NetBlocks posted to X. The outages have also impacted neighboring countries, including Burundi, Uganda and Rwanda, NetBlocks said. The site added that “the incident is likely to limit coverage of events on the ground where protests are held.” (CNN) …[+]