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21:25 GMT
NEW YORK, May 12 (KUNA) -- UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres expressed on Monday grave concern about the UN report results warning against starvation in Gaza where the whole people are facing high levels of food insecurity.
In a press statement, the report tasked with full classification of the food security phases showed that one in five persons in the Strip is facing starvation, noting that most children are now facing extreme hunger.
Guterres said "aid partners on the ground in Gaza report that the number of hot meals served by those community kitchens that are still operating is declining very quickly".
He indicated that today, about 260,000 meals have been prepared and delivered across the Gaza Strip.
This number marks a "decrease compared to 840,000 meals last Wednesday - a 70 per cent reduction of 580,000 daily meals in just five days", he noted.
He renewed calls for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza, the urgent and unconditional release of all hostages, stressing the need of dealing with them in a humanitarian manner.
Guterres extolled ongoing efforts by mediators - Egypt, Qatar and the US - to end hostile acts in the Strip.
The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) platform said "Goods indispensable for people's survival are either depleted or expected to run out in the coming weeks ... The entire population is facing high levels of acute food insecurity". (end)
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