The World Food Programme called on Tuesday for immediate action to avert famine in the Gaza Strip, warning that the humanitarian crisis there could soon worsen as a result of what it described as severe restrictions on the flow of aid.

"As the situation in northern Gaza continues to deteriorate, the likelihood of a larger group being affected by famine will certainly increase unless conditions on the ground improve," the World Food Programme added in a statement.

He said he had about 94,000 tons of food ready in Egypt and Jordan, enough to feed a million people for four months, but he could not get it into Gaza because too few entry points were open and some were not safe enough.

Since Israel occupied the Rafah crossing last May, more than a year after the start of its aggression on Gaza, all roads leading to the Strip have been under its control.

The World Food Programme said that "the restrictions imposed on humanitarian aid coming into Gaza are severe, and that only five thousand tons have entered the Strip this month."

He added that approval of trucks and truck drivers and delays at checkpoints are among other constraints that need to be addressed to improve the flow of aid to the sector.