Famine Declared in Gaza City
A UN-backed assessment has confirmed that Gaza City and surrounding areas are experiencing a full-scale famine, marking the first declaration of famine outside of Africa by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC). The report says 514,000 people are currently in famine conditions, and it is expected to rise to 641,000 - almost a third of the population - by the end of September. Children are among the worst hit by the famine, and at least 132,000 are projected to suffer from acute malnutrition over the next year, double the number estimated in May 2024.
The IPC report follows nearly two years of war that began on October 7th, 2023. As hunger spreads to Deir al-Balah and Khan Younis, more deaths from starvation are being recorded — including children like 4-year-old Razan Abu Zaher. UN Human Rights Chief Volker Turk called the situation “a war crime,” stating, “It is a war crime to use starvation as [a] method of warfare.”
While aid agencies and UN officials blame Israel’s blockade and restricted access for the crisis, Israel rejects the findings entirely. The Israeli military body COGAT claims the IPC report is based on "biased data" and argues that over 100,000 aid trucks have entered Gaza. Yet, UN relief chief Tom Fletcher has accused Israel of “systematic obstruction,” pleading: “Enough. Ceasefire. Open the crossings, north and south, all of them.”
