UNITED NATIONS, July 29 (Xinhua) -- The latest hunger report confirms that Gaza is on the brink of famine, said UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday.

"The facts are in, and they are undeniable," he said of the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) Alert compiled by UN agencies. "Palestinians in Gaza are enduring a humanitarian catastrophe of epic proportions. This is not a warning. It is a reality unfolding before our eyes."

The alert said food consumption and nutrition indicators had reached their worst levels since the conflict began in October 2023, reporting that two out of the three famine thresholds had been breached in parts of the Gaza Strip.

"The trickle of aid must become an ocean," Guterres said. "Food, water, medicine, and fuel must flow in waves and without obstruction. This nightmare must end. Ending this worst-case scenario will take the best efforts of all parties -- now."

The UN chief repeated his oft-heard plea for an immediate and permanent humanitarian ceasefire, the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages, and unfettered humanitarian access across Gaza.

"This is a test of our shared humanity, a test we cannot afford to fail," said the secretary-general.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said it is maximizing the opportunities presented by the tactical pause announced by the Israeli authorities to facilitate the delivery of aid into and across Gaza.

The office said that on Sunday and Monday, the first two days of the pause, the United Nations and partners were able to bring into Gaza more food, primarily wheat flour, along with ready-to-use infant formula, high-energy biscuits, diapers, vaccines and much-needed fuel.

"Our colleagues say that most aid is still being offloaded by crowds before reaching where it's supposed to go," OCHA said, referring to what many call looting. "But market monitoring shows prices for basic goods are starting to drop, which could point to better operating conditions if aid flows further increase and supplies saturate the area."

The office said commercial imports also need to resume, sooner rather than later. No humanitarian operation can fully support 2.1 million people on its own. For people to feel reassured that aid is flowing regularly, tactical pauses are not enough. What's desperately needed is a full, permanent ceasefire, the office said.

Throughout most of the Gaza Strip, the United Nations and partners are still required to coordinate humanitarian movements with the Israeli authorities.

"We're seeing fewer outright denials by the Israeli authorities. But teams are still facing impediments on the ground," OCHA said. "All attempts (on Monday) were initially approved, but only half of them were fully facilitated. That's five out of 10. This facilitation allowed our teams to collect cargo from Kerem Shalom (Karem Abu Salem) and Zikim, the only crossings currently available to us, alongside other critical operations."

While the office said the remaining five attempts faced impediments with their planned movements, two missions were fulfilled, and three could not be accomplished fully or at all.

The IPC is a global initiative providing information on the scale and severity of food insecurity and malnutrition. Its latest report said famine thresholds were reached for food consumption in most of the Gaza Strip and for acute malnutrition in Gaza City.

The IPC Alert also provided some statistics on hunger among the strip's children.

It said that over 20,000 children were admitted for treatment for acute malnutrition between April and mid-July, with more than 3,000 severely malnourished. Hospitals reported a rapid increase in hunger-related deaths of children under 5, with at least 16 reported deaths since July 17. ■