U.N. report: Palestinians risk starvation

NEW YORK, June 22 (UPI) -- Three U.N. agencies reported that the percentage of Palestinians not getting enough to eat has grown 4 percent since 2006.

The report was released Friday by the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization, the U.N. World Food Program and the U.N. Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, the Palestinian news agency WAFA said.

"The agricultural sector in the Gaza Strip is close to collapse, as no exports are allowed, and there is a total unavailability of fertilizer, pesticides and other crucial inputs," the report said.

The agencies found that food prices are up sharply in the past year, while 75 percent of Palestinians report declining incomes.

Many parents skimp on their own food in order to feed their children.

A WFP spokeswoman said that support from donor countries has also dropped sharply.