UN confirms famine in Gaza
Gaza, 22 August 2025 – For the first time ever, the global authority on hunger, the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), has officially declared a famine in Gaza City and its surrounding areas. This marks only the fifth famine globally since 2004 and the first confirmed in the Middle East .
At present, over 500,000 people—around a quarter of Gaza’s population—are enduring catastrophic food insecurity. Unless urgent action is taken, this number could swell to 641,000 by the end of September .
UN agencies—including FAO, WFP, UNICEF, and WHO—underscore that this famine is entirely man-made, precipitated by prolonged conflict, blockades, and barriers to aid access . They argue that without an immediate ceasefire, full humanitarian access, and rapid delivery of food, medical care, and sanitation, famine-related deaths will increase exponentially .
Children and Mothers Facing Dire Emergencies
In July 2025 alone, more than 12,000 children were identified as acutely malnourished—the highest monthly figure on record. Nearly one in four of these children suffered from severe acute malnutrition, the deadliest form .
Projections indicate that by mid-2026, some 43,400 children and 55,000 pregnant or breastfeeding women will be at severe risk of death from hunger and malnutrition .
Total Collapse of Food Systems and Production
Agricultural devastation has reached catastrophic levels: 98–98.5% of Gaza’s cropland is now damaged or inaccessible, leaving just 1.5% available for cultivation .
Only 688 hectares were usable in April, plunging to 232 hectares by August—a collapse that affects livelihoods and the possibility of local food renewal .
Infrastructure critical to food systems—greenhouses, wells, livestock, and fisheries—has also been widely destroyed or rendered nonoperational .
Famine Spreading South
The IPC warns that famine conditions are quickening beyond Gaza City, with Deir al-Balah and Khan Younis likely to fall into famine in the coming weeks if no immediate humanitarian measures are enacted .
Reactions and Urgent Appeals
UN Secretary-General António Guterres decried the famine as both a “moral indictment” and a collapse of humanity’s responsibility, urging immediate humanitarian intervention . UN emergency coordinator Tom Fletcher called on Israel to end restrictions and enable large-scale aid delivery, emphasizing that “the time for hesitation has passed” .
Israeli Government Response
Israeli officials have categorically rejected the famine declaration, labeling it politically motivated and downplaying the severity. They argue that recent aid inflows and food delivery efforts belie the picture of widespread starvation.
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Bottom Line
The first-ever declaration of famine in Gaza is a stark and unprecedented humanitarian tragedy. It reflects the sharp collapse of food systems, infrastructure, and living standards. Children and mothers are on the brink—facing severe malnutrition and starvation amid an ongoing conflict that is intensifying the crisis. Immediate international and political action is now crucial