Famine Unfolding Across Gaza, Says Global Hunger Monitor

Global Hunger Monitor reports that famine is spreading throughout Gaza. According to a new report from the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), a global organization that monitors hunger, a humanitarian crisis is engulfing Gaza as famine conditions spread throughout the territory. For hundreds of thousands of civilians, widespread malnutrition, hunger, and starvation are now a dire reality, according to the report, which warns that large segments of the population in Gaza are experiencing catastrophic levels of food insecurity. The IPC, which classifies food insecurity into five phases—ranging from minimal to famine—has placed much of Gaza in Phase 5: Catastrophe/Famine. Extreme hunger, acute malnutrition, and excessive mortality are all indicators of this phase. The situation, the IPC notes, is unprecedented in modern history in terms of speed, scale, and severity.

The IPC stated in its most recent report that "the risk of famine is no longer hypothetical; it is imminent." “We are already seeing starvation-related deaths, particularly among children and the elderly. The situation will get even worse without a ceasefire and immediate, unrestricted humanitarian access. Gaza's infrastructure has been destroyed, its health services have been crippled, and food supply chains have been severed as a result of months of intense conflict between Israel and Hamas. The destruction of bakeries, markets, warehouses, and water facilities has pushed an already fragile population to the brink. With over two million people trapped in the besieged strip, aid agencies report that food deliveries have become almost impossible due to border closures, security threats, and bureaucratic barriers.

The World Food Programme (WFP) and UNICEF have also raised alarm over the escalating child malnutrition crisis. They say that up to 70% of children under the age of five in northern Gaza now have acute malnutrition or wasting, which can be fatal. These conditions have only gotten worse as a result of the lack of clean water, medicine, and shelter. "Children are dying not just from bombs but from hunger and dehydration," said a spokesperson from UNICEF. "This is a famine that has been caused by humans, and it is completely avoidable if the international community takes decisive action." According to the IPC, at least 500,000 people in Gaza are currently facing starvation, with many more expected to join them if the conflict and blockade continue. It estimates that without large-scale food and medical aid, a full-blown famine could engulf the entire enclave within weeks.

There have been calls for immediate international intervention as a result of the human toll. The United Nations has repeatedly demanded a ceasefire to facilitate the delivery of aid and the protection of civilians. Martin Griffiths, the UN’s emergency relief coordinator, described the situation as “a stain on our collective conscience,” warning that time is running out to avert a catastrophe.

Even though Egypt's Rafah border crossing has been used by some aid convoys to enter Gaza, the extent of the need far outweighs the limited supplies being delivered. Security for humanitarian corridors, an end to hostilities, and the removal of restrictions on essential aid items like fuel, water purification tablets, and medical supplies have been requested by aid organizations. The IPC stresses that famine is not merely a product of natural disasters, but often a result of political decisions and prolonged conflict. In Gaza, they say, it is the result of deliberate obstruction of humanitarian aid, destruction of food systems, and displacement of millions.

In response to the report, several governments and humanitarian organizations have renewed calls for immediate action. Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have demanded accountability for any violations of international humanitarian law and called for an independent investigation into the circumstances that led to the famine. Yet, as diplomatic efforts falter and the conflict grinds on, the people of Gaza continue to face unimaginable hardship. Eyewitness accounts from aid workers describe families boiling grass to survive, children scavenging for scraps, and hospitals overwhelmed with emaciated patients.

The findings of the IPC emphasize the urgent requirement for swift humanitarian mobilization, political will, and international solidarity. Without swift and coordinated action, the famine in Gaza could become one of the worst humanitarian disasters of the 21st century—a grim reminder of the devastating human cost of war and political paralysis.