Palestinians in Gaza ‘enduring humanitarian catastrophe of epic proportions’, says UN secretary general – as it happened

Antonio Guterres says trickle of aid into Gaza must become an ocean as UN-backed experts say famine is underway. This live blog is closed

The UN's World Food Programme has warned that the disaster unfolding in Gaza is reminiscent of last century's famines seen in Ethiopia and Biafra in Nigeria.

WFP emergency director Ross Smith told reporters in Geneva:

This is unlike anything we have seen in this century. It reminds us of previous disasters in Ethiopia or Biafra in the past century.

We need urgent action now.