A World Food Program official said on Wednesday that the Gaza Strip could slide into famine within six weeks after widespread food insecurity, malnutrition and deaths.

“We are getting closer every day to famine,” said Gian Carlo Seri, director of the World Food Program in Geneva, adding that “there is reasonable evidence that the three determinants of famine (namely) food insecurity, malnutrition and mortality will be overcome in the next six weeks.”

A UN-backed report published in March said famine was imminent and likely to occur by May in the northern Gaza Strip and could spread across the Strip by July. A US official said on Tuesday that the risk of famine in the Gaza Strip, especially in the north, is very high.