Gaza’s Northern Region Declared in Famine by International Agencies

Palestinians, including children, who are struggling to access food due to Israel’s blockade and ongoing attacks on the Gaza Strip, wait in line to receive food.

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The world’s leading authority on food insecurity has confirmed a famine in Gaza.

In a report published Friday, the United Nations-backed group of experts finds that over half a million people parts of northern Gaza are at risk of dying from starvation, and hundreds of thousands more people face catastrophic shortages as the famine spreads to other areas.

“As this Famine is entirely man-made, it can be halted and reversed. The time for debate and hesitation has passed, starvation is present and is rapidly spreading,” the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, or IPC, report says.

The images of skeletal children in Gaza have already caused widespread protests around the world against the Israeli offensive there and prompted some of Israel’s most important Western allies to say they will recognize a Palestinian state. The IPC report brings the facts behind those photographs of starvation into stark relief.

It says famine, the most extreme classification of hunger, is occurring in Gaza Governorate, where Gaza City is located, and projected to expand to the areas of Deir al-Balah and Khan Younis by the end of September.

Describing the situation as a “race against time,” the report says at least 132,000 children under the age of 5 could die from acute malnutrition in the coming months.

This estimate has doubled since an IPC report in May, showing just how drastically the conditions have worsened in Gaza in recent weeks.

Nearly 55,500 malnourished pregnant and breastfeeding women will require an urgent nutrition response.

The Ministry of Health in Gaza said Thursday 271 people have so far died in the famine, including 112 children.

This is the first time famine has been confirmed in the Middle East. And it’s happened in a 25-mile-long strip of land, where trucks piled with thousands of tons of food are parked at border crossings.

The people in Gaza now dying of starvation are never more than a few miles from warehouses filled with food aid that they have no way to reach.

“This is the direct result of months of deliberate restrictions on aid, the destruction of Gaza’s food, health, and water systems, and relentless bombardment,” Tjada D’Oyen McKenna, the CEO of Mercy Corps, said in response to the statement. “This is a man-made catastrophe, entirely preventable and entirely unconscionable.”

Israel was quick to respond to the report. Israel’s Foreign Ministry accused the IPC of publishing “a tailor-made report to fit Hamas’s fake campaign.” It claims “there is no famine in Gaza.” The Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT), the Israeli military body in charge of Palestinian civilian affairs, said the report is based “partial and unreliable sources, many of them affiliated with Hamas.” The office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu posted point-by-point arguments against the report, including allegations that it “ignores Israel’s humanitarian efforts and Hamas’s systematic theft.”

The Israeli government has repeatedly said its restrictions on aid are to pressure Hamas and prevent its fighters from benefiting from it.

Children‘s Fund (UNICEF) said that nine out of 10 children in Gaza suffer from severe malnutrition.” loading=”lazy”/>

But the result has been a breakdown in the aid system for Gaza’s population living under Israeli blockade, even before this war.

Earlier this month, more than 100 international humanitarian organizations, including Caritas, Save the Children and Doctors Without Borders, accused Israel of “weaponizing” aid to help achieve its aims in Gaza. The statement from Aug. 13 said, “Despite claims by Israeli authorities that there is no limit on humanitarian aid entering Gaza, most major international NGOs have been unable to deliver a single truck of lifesaving supplies since 2 March.”

They said their operations are hampered by new, more restrictive Israeli regulations for international aid groups, which they say have resulted in Israeli authorities denying dozens of permissions for groups to bring their aid into Gaza. “This obstruction has left millions of dollars’ worth of food, medicine, water, and shelter items stranded in warehouses across Jordan and Egypt, while Palestinians are being starved,” the statement said.

On July 29, an IPC alert warned that the “worst-case scenario of famine” was playing out in the Gaza Strip. It underscored the devastating living situation for Gaza’s some 2 million citizens, almost two years since the Hamas attacks on southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, prompted a full-scale Israeli military invasion of Gaza.

After Israel tightened restrictions on supplies entering Gaza in mid-March, food dried up.  In the weeks that followed, adults prioritized feeding their children over themselves as a coping strategy, which, according to the IPC alert, initially mitigated a rise in acute child malnutrition.

However, by April, supplies had become so scarce that parents could no longer protect their children this way. The IPC alert said that between April and mid-July, over 20,000 children had to be treated for acute malnutrition.

What little sustenance could be found in markets skyrocketed in price.  In June, wheat flour prices increased between 1,400% and 5,600% compared to late February. By July, the IPC alert stated nearly 9 out of 10 households had to resort to taking “significant safety risks” to find food and scavenge from garbage.

The U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres posted his response to the report on social media. “Just when it seems there are no words left to describe the living hell in Gaza, a new one has been added: ‘famine’,” the U.N. chief said. “This is not a mystery — it is a man-made disaster, a moral indictment and a failure of humanity itself.”

British Foreign Secretary David Lammy said it was “utterly horrifying” and held Israel responsible. “The Israeli government’s refusal to allow sufficient aid into Gaza has caused this man-made catastrophe. This is a moral outrage,” Lammy said in a statement.

Palestinians carry humanitarian aid packages near a Gaza Humanitarian Foundation distribution center operated by the U.S.-backed organization in Netzarim, central Gaza Strip.

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Hundreds of civilians have been reported shot dead as they cross dangerous militarized zones to receive supplies from the aid distribution sites of the U.S. and Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. The foundation disputes that the killings occur near its centers and says it has distributed 132 million meals.

But aid experts say that much of what the group gives out is not ready-to-eat and requires water and fuel for cooking — resources that are hard to come by in Gaza, where Israeli bombardment has devastated critical infrastructure.

Moreover, experts say the distribution sites are located primarily in militarized zones along the Khan Younis–Rafah border, where less than a quarter of Gaza’s population lives.

Finding food and resources for cooking has been made all the more difficult by the frequent and often repeated forced displacements of families across the Gaza Strip. The IPC report said some 800,000 people have had to leave their homes in waves of displacement that have forced people to abandon any remaining resources, further disrupted access to essential health services and compounded humanitarian needs.

The confirmation of famine comes as Israel’s security cabinet approved plans for Israeli soldiers and 60,000 reservists to move into Gaza City.

The U.N. says that already nearly 90% of Gaza is under military control or off-limits to Palestinians. Gaza City is home to tens of thousands of Gazans displaced from other parts of the strip and has several of the territory’s last partially functioning hospitals. The Israeli military has started calling doctors and international organizations in the city, telling them to leave.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday that Israel will now resume negotiations for the release of all hostages held in Gaza and an end to the nearly 2-year-old war, but on terms acceptable to Israel. It comes in response to a temporary ceasefire proposal put forward by Egypt and Qatar that Hamas accepted on Monday.

Israel will dispatch negotiators to talks once a location is set, an Israeli official said. Netanyahu, however, also said he remained set on approving plans for capturing Gaza City.

The talks could offer a moment’s hope to Palestinians desperate for a ceasefire that the experts behind the IPC report say is so desperately needed as a first step to address the famine in Gaza.

But for now, the situation in the enclave remains desperate. The United Nations’ World Food Programme said in a recent report that “public order has broken down” and that “after 22 months of fighting, the social fabric of Gaza is collapsing as the fear of starvation intensifies.”

Almost all the trucks carrying WFP food aid inside Gaza have been stopped before reaching their destination by civilians desperate to find the sustenance they need for themselves and their families to survive.

What programmatic actions are needed to address the bureaucratic obstacles hindering aid delivery to northern gaza, as highlighted by the IPC report?

The Escalating Crisis: Understanding the Famine Declaration

On August 24, 2025, multiple international agencies, including the World Food Program (WFP), UNICEF, and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), officially declared a famine in the northern Gaza Strip. This grim milestone signifies a catastrophic failure of humanitarian aid delivery and a devastating impact on the civilian population.The declaration hinges on specific, rigorously defined criteria, indicating a severe level of food insecurity.

Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC): The famine declaration is based on IPC Phase 5, the most severe level, characterized by widespread starvation, acute malnutrition, and excess mortality.

Key Indicators: These indicators include:

Acute malnutrition rates exceeding 30% in children under five.

More than 20% of households facing extreme food insecurity.

Mortality rates exceeding two per 10,000 people per day.

Root Causes of the Gaza Famine

The famine isn’t a natural disaster; it’s a man-made crisis stemming from a complex interplay of factors, exacerbated by ongoing conflict and restrictions.Understanding these causes is crucial for effective intervention.

Blockades and Access Restrictions

For years, the gaza Strip has been subject to a blockade imposed by Israel and Egypt, severely restricting the movement of people and goods. This has crippled the Gazan economy and limited access to essential supplies, including food, medicine, and fuel.Recent conflict has dramatically tightened these restrictions.

Disrupted Food Production & Supply Chains

The ongoing hostilities have decimated Gaza’s agricultural sector. Farmlands have been destroyed, irrigation systems damaged, and farmers displaced. Importantly, the main crossing points for aid deliveries have been repeatedly closed or severely restricted, hindering the flow of vital food assistance.

Humanitarian Aid Challenges

Despite international efforts, delivering sufficient aid to northern Gaza has proven incredibly difficult.

Security Concerns: Active combat zones and the risk of attacks on aid convoys pose important challenges.

Bureaucratic Obstacles: Complex procedures and delays in obtaining permits for aid deliveries further impede access.

Infrastructure Damage: Damage to roads and storage facilities hinders the distribution of aid even when it reaches Gaza.

Impact on the Civilian Population: A Humanitarian Catastrophe

The famine is having a devastating impact on the people of northern Gaza, particularly vulnerable groups like children, pregnant and breastfeeding women, and the elderly.

Malnutrition and Health Crisis

Acute malnutrition is rampant, leading to weakened immune systems, increased susceptibility to disease, and a higher risk of death. Hospitals are overwhelmed with cases of severely malnourished children.

Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM): A life-threatening condition requiring immediate medical intervention.

Moderate Acute Malnutrition (MAM): Increases the risk of developing SAM and long-term health problems.

Displacement and Food Insecurity

Hundreds of thousands of Gazans have been displaced from their homes due to the conflict, further exacerbating food insecurity. Displaced populations often lack access to adequate shelter, sanitation, and food.

Long-Term Consequences

The famine will have long-lasting consequences for the health and well-being of the Gazan population, including:

Stunted Growth: Malnutrition during childhood can lead to irreversible physical and cognitive impairments.

Increased Mortality Rates: The famine is already contributing to a rise in mortality rates, particularly among children.

Economic Disruption: The destruction of infrastructure and the loss of livelihoods will hinder Gaza’s economic recovery for years to come.

International Response and Aid Efforts

The international community is mobilizing aid to address the famine, but the scale of the crisis requires a considerably increased and sustained response.

Current Aid Organizations Involved

World Food Programme (WFP): Providing food assistance to vulnerable populations.

UNICEF: Focusing on the nutritional needs of children.

Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO): Supporting agricultural recovery and food security.

Red Cross/Red Crescent: Providing emergency medical care and humanitarian assistance.

Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF): Operating medical facilities and providing healthcare services.

Challenges to Aid Delivery (Revisited)

Despite these efforts, aid delivery remains a major challenge. Increased pressure is being placed on all parties to ensure safe, unimpeded access for humanitarian organizations.

Calls for Ceasefire and Political resolution

Many international organizations and governments are calling for an immediate ceasefire and a political resolution to the conflict, arguing that this is the only way to end the famine and prevent further suffering.

The Role of International law and Accountability

The intentional obstruction of humanitarian aid and the targeting of civilians are violations of international humanitarian law.

Potential War Crimes