[GUIDE] What “famine” means + how your support makes a difference

+ a few updates that give me hope: 🧺fresh vegetable baskets + 🥘 food parcels. {NAME}– With so many children and families starving in Gaza, I wanted to send you an informative guide about the term "famine," including what it means for the people who live there, why it’s so significant and how your support makes a difference. Before diving into this guide and reading about the immense needs in Gaza, I wanted to share a quick update with you that gives me hope (I hope it does the same for you): - 🕒The IRC and our partner, the Agriculture Development Association (PARC), are currently working around the clock to help families facing malnutrition in Gaza. - 🧺Together, we are distributing 1,700 fresh vegetable baskets, as well as providing cash assistance to more than 400 families and enhancing access to 💧 Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) services, by enhancing facilities in 10 shelters. - 🥘Also, we distributed fresh food parcels to 3,450 families, alongside our partner Taawon, between January and February. Your support makes this impact possible, {NAME}. Thank you. [RUSH YOUR EMERGENCY GIFT FOR FAMILIES IN CRISIS NOW »]( [Children waiting in line with empty bowls and plates for food]( [GUIDE] FAMINE: Here's what you need to know The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) scale is how hunger crises are measured. Famines are only declared if and when certain criteria defined by this system are met. [5 levels of IPC food classification]( ⚠️ More than 1.1 million people in Gaza are already experiencing Level 5 catastrophic food insecurity, and the entire population is facing some level of hunger. As it stands, children and families don't know where their next meal is coming from, and they are already going hungry. The entire population in Gaza is at imminent risk of famine. Without immediate assistance, thousands are likely to face starvation that leads to death. {NAME}, people are starving due to Israel's continuous restrictions on aid, incessant bombardment that has damaged and destroyed critical infrastructure like markets and bakeries and its ongoing blockade of food, medicine, water and fuel. This crisis is entirely man-made. Once famine is classified, people are already dying. Stopping famine from taking hold is a race against time. [5 people sharing a small bottle of water]( {NAME}, I hope you found this guide useful, and please know that the IRC is committed to continuing to save lives in Gaza and other crisis zones. But we couldn't do this critical work without your support. Thank you. Elias Elias Abu Ata Regional Senior Media and Communications Manager (MENA Region) International Rescue Committee P.S. The needs are immense. Children in Gaza are starving. If you can consider making a donation, for families in Gaza and others facing crises around the world, [please do so today.]( Thank you for your kind consideration. [RUSH YOUR EMERGENCY GIFT FOR FAMILIES IN CRISIS NOW »]( The International Rescue Committee | [Rescue.org]( 122 East 42nd Street, New York, New York 10168-1289 USA To ensure future delivery of IRC e-mails, please add our reply address updates@rescue.org to your Address Book. [Click here]( for U.S. federal and state compliance notices [Manage my preferences]( or [unsubscribe](