The United Nations has officially declared a famine in Gaza, marking the first such recognition in West Asia. Experts warned that more than half a million people in the territory are facing “catastrophic” levels of hunger after nearly two years of conflict.
UN aid chief Tom Fletcher called the crisis entirely preventable, saying food had been unable to reach Gaza because of what he described as “systematic obstruction by Israel.” Israel’s Foreign Ministry swiftly rejected the report, calling it false and accusing international organisations of relying on “Hamas lies.”
Gaza City Confirmed in Famine Zone
According to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), famine has been confirmed in Gaza Governorate, which includes Gaza City and makes up about 20 percent of the Strip. The situation is projected to worsen, with famine conditions expected to spread to Deir el-Balah and Khan Yunis by the end of September, covering nearly two-thirds of the territory.
The IPC report said that as of mid-August, more than 500,000 people were suffering from extreme hunger, with the number likely to rise to over 640,000 almost a third of Gaza population within weeks. It described the crisis as the most severe decline since monitoring of hunger in Gaza began.
Collapse of Food and Health Systems
The crisis has been fueled by an escalation in fighting between Israel and Hamas, widespread displacement, and severe restrictions on humanitarian aid. Israel imposed a complete ban on aid in March before allowing limited supplies in May, leaving shortages of food, medicine, and fuel.
Local food production has collapsed, with 98 percent of farmland damaged or inaccessible, livestock wiped out, and fishing banned. Hospitals are overwhelmed, safe drinking water is scarce, and hygiene conditions have sharply deteriorated.
“A Famine That Could Have Been Prevented”
Speaking in Geneva, Fletcher said the crisis “should haunt us all,” stressing that food was available at border points but was blocked from entering Gaza.
The IPC noted that famine is officially declared when three conditions are met: at least 20 percent of households face extreme food shortages, at least 30 percent of children under five suffer acute malnutrition, and at least two people per 10,000 die daily from starvation or related disease.
The conflict which began with Hamas October 2023 attack that killed over 1,200 people in Israel, has since led to more than 62,000 Palestinian deaths according to Gaza health authorities figures the UN considers credible.