The humanitarian situation in Gaza has reached a catastrophic level. According to the UN-backed Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), famine is officially confirmed in Gaza City and surrounding areas, marking the first famine declaration outside Africa by the IPC. This dire status is attributed to 22 months of conflict, severe restrictions on aid, and infrastructure devastation. AP News The Guardian
Heart-Wrenching Scenes of Desperation
AFP footage captures Palestinians — many clutching pots and plastic buckets — rushing for rice at a charity kitchen in Gaza City. Among them were women and children, with one young boy scraping grains from a vat and another girl scooping rice from a plastic bag. These scenes poignantly reflect the extreme shortage of essentials. Al-Monitor The Express Tribune The Guardian
Displaced residents like Yousef Hamad, once from Beit Hanoun, stated tragically:
“We have no home left, no food, no income… forced to turn to charity kitchens, but they do not satisfy our hunger.”
In Deir el-Balah, families report that the famine declaration came “far too late,” with children staggering from hunger and dehydration. Al-Monitor The Jakarta Post
Warnings and Denials
The IPC projects that the famine will spread further to southern governorates including Deir el-Balah and Khan Younis by month-end, potentially affecting over two-thirds of the population in Gaza. The Guardian CBS News
UNRWA’s chief, Philippe Lazzarini, urged global leaders and Israel to acknowledge the crisis and act with “a sense of moral duty.” Al-Monitor AP News
Meanwhile, Israel strongly refuted the report, calling it “an outright lie” and accusing the IPC of political bias. AP News Al Jazeera
The Path Forward
Humanitarian agencies highlight that famine in Gaza is the result of a man-made crisis, driven by war, access restrictions, and obstruction of aid. The IPC warns that without an immediate ceasefire and unhindered humanitarian assistance, the loss of life will escalate through the deeply impoverished enclave. World Food Programme The Guardian
Related News and Sources
- UN experts confirm famine in Gaza, call for action. AP News The Guardian
- Doctors report increasing malnutrition and starvation-related deaths in Gaza hospitals. AP News
- Israeli strikes continue amid growing famine and displacement.
