"Apocalyptic": U.N. Declares Famine in Gaza, UNICEF Demands Aid Access

We speak with UNICEF spokesperson Tess Ingram in Gaza City, where the world's top authority on hunger has formally declared a famine. The United Nations-backed Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, or IPC, says the "catastrophic" situation in Gaza's largest urban center puts about half a million Palestinians at risk of starving to death. Many aid agencies have lifesaving supplies sitting in warehouses outside Gaza that they are unable to distribute due to Israeli restrictions. This comes as Israel has escalated its destruction of Gaza City with the intent of forcibly displacing residents further south.

"Hopefully world leaders will take it and use it as a catalyst to finally do something to try and get more aid to these children," Ingram says of the famine declaration. "What we are asking for is for us to be allowed to do our jobs. We are being hampered every step of the way at the moment."

Democracy Now! is an independent global news hour that airs on over 1,500 TV and radio stations Monday through Friday. Watch our livestream at democracynow.org Mondays to Fridays 8-9 a.m. ET.