Gaza City, August 22, 2025 — A global food security watchdog has officially declared a famine in Gaza City and its surrounding areas, confirming fears that the territory’s hunger crisis has reached catastrophic levels. The announcement from the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) marks the first time famine has been recognized in the Middle East.
A Dire Humanitarian Situation
According to the IPC, more than 514,000 Palestinians — nearly one in four people in Gaza — are facing starvation, with the numbers expected to climb to over 640,000 by the end of September if conditions do not improve. The hardest-hit region is the Gaza governorate, home to about 280,000 people now living in famine conditions.
The report warns that unless immediate aid is allowed in, the crisis could soon spread south to Deir al-Balah and Khan Younis, pushing Gaza’s fragile food system past the point of recovery.
Why the Crisis Has Escalated
The famine comes after months of severe restrictions on food and humanitarian aid entering Gaza. Widespread destruction of farmland, markets, and critical infrastructure has left families with no way to access or afford food.
International aid agencies including the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, UNICEF, the World Food Programme, and the World Health Organization have jointly urged for an immediate ceasefire and unrestricted humanitarian access. They warn that without it, thousands of lives — particularly those of children — remain at risk.
Global Outrage
World leaders and humanitarian officials reacted with alarm.
- UN Secretary-General António Guterres called the famine a “man-made disaster” and a stark reminder of the international community’s failure to protect civilians.
- UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk went further, saying that deliberate starvation caused by restrictions on aid could amount to a war crime.
Governments including the UK, Canada, and Australia have joined calls for Israel to allow immediate and safe delivery of food and medical supplies into Gaza.
Israel Rejects the Findings
Israel’s government has dismissed the IPC’s conclusion, calling the famine declaration “false” and “politically motivated.” Officials from COGAT, the Israeli body that oversees aid access to Gaza, argue that food shipments have increased in recent weeks and insist that the data used for the famine classification is unreliable.
What Lies Ahead
For families in Gaza City, the declaration only confirms what they have been living through for months: empty shelves, skyrocketing food prices, and children going to bed hungry. Aid groups warn that with famine now officially recognized, the international community has a narrow window to act before the crisis engulfs even more of Gaza’s population.
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