A dire famine crisis has engulfed Gaza, marking a tragic milestone as reported by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification.
With over 500,000 individuals on the brink of starvation, the looming threat of famine is expected to escalate throughout the region in the upcoming weeks, marking the first official declaration of famine in the Middle East.
Leading UN agencies including FAO, UNICEF, WFP, and WHO are urgently appealing for an immediate ceasefire and unrestricted humanitarian access to avert further widespread loss of life. Without a substantial increase in aid, the situation is forecasted to rapidly deteriorate.
By the close of September, an estimated 640,000 people are anticipated to confront catastrophic food insecurity, while an additional 1.14 million will be in emergency circumstances. The report underscores that North Gaza may be experiencing conditions even more severe than Gaza City, though challenges in accessibility have hindered a comprehensive assessment.
Children are disproportionately impacted by the crisis, with malnutrition rates skyrocketing at an alarming pace. In July alone, over 12,000 children were identified as severely malnourished, representing a six-fold increase since the beginning of the year. Nearly a quarter of these children are afflicted by severe acute malnutrition, a condition that often proves fatal.
The breakdown of food systems, agriculture, and healthcare services has left families in a state of desperation. Nearly all arable land is either damaged or inaccessible, and the majority of the population has been displaced multiple times. Access to clean water, sanitation, and medical assistance is severely restricted, leading to a surge in disease prevalence.
UN officials underscored that only an immediate and sustained ceasefire can facilitate the necessary level of response. “The people of Gaza have exhausted all avenues of survival,” remarked FAO Director-General QU Dongyu. “Access to food is not a privilege—it is a fundamental human right.”
UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell echoed the sense of urgency, stating, “Famine is now an ominous reality. Without prompt ceasefire implementation and unimpeded humanitarian access, famine will proliferate, resulting in further child casualties.”
