An international organization that assesses hunger has officially declared for the first time that a widespread famine is spreading in Palestine’s Gaza.
The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) stated that northern areas of Gaza are experiencing a widespread famine, and this condition is expected to spread to central and southern areas of Gaza by the end of September.
The Zionist aggression against Gaza began on October 7, 2023. As the aggression nears its second year, the Zionists continue to severely restrict the entry of aid supplies and food into Gaza. Consequently, the number of people martyred in Gaza due to starvation is increasing daily. As of August 21, 271 people have been martyred in Gaza due to hunger, including 112 children.
According to the IPC, more than half a million people in Gaza are in Phase 5 of the IPC system’s hunger scale, which is the worst condition. In Phase 5, a large portion of the population is experiencing hunger and malnutrition. In this state, many people die due to starvation. An additional 1.07 million people, or 54% of the population, are in IPC Phase 4, and 396,000 people, or 20% of the population, are in IPC Phase 3.
The IPC has also stated that Gaza’s hunger situation will worsen further from mid-August through the end of September. They predict that the widespread famine will spread to central areas like Deir al-Balah and southern areas like Khan Yunis.
The IPC has warned that by the end of September, one-third of Gaza’s total population, or 641,000 people, will be in IPC Phase 5. The number of people in Phase 4 will increase to 1.14 million, or 58% of the population. This is the worst situation in Gaza since the IPC began monitoring hunger levels there with the participation of 21 organizations.
The IPC stated that if immediate action is not taken to improve Gaza’s situation, it will worsen further, and hunger must be ended in some way. Otherwise, the situation in Gaza will continue to deteriorate even after September. They predict that 132,000 children under five years old will die from malnutrition before June 2026, which is double the number estimated by the IPC in May of this year. They also stated that 41,000 of these children are already on the brink of death. Additionally, 55,500 pregnant and lactating women in Gaza who are malnourished need special nutrition containing essential nutrients immediately.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres said that the widespread famine situation facing Gaza is deliberately imposed by humans. He described it as evidence of a failure of humanity. He said that widespread famine is not just a food-related situation but a deliberate destruction of systems essential for human survival. Noting that Gaza’s people are starving and children are dying, Guterres said that those responsible for taking action are not taking adequate steps.
Guterres further stated that as an occupying power, the Zionists have obligations under international law to care for Gaza’s population. This includes providing food and medicine needed by Gaza’s population, he said. He stated that the current situation in Gaza cannot be allowed to continue, and that now is the time to condemn and punish Zionist actions without excuses and take action.
Referring to the hundreds of aid-laden trucks stuck at the border unable to enter Gaza due to the Zionists, UN humanitarian aid chief Tom Fletcher said that Gaza’s people are starving very close to areas where food is available. He said Zionist leaders are openly calling food a weapon of war. He called on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to immediately end the situation imposed on Gaza and allow humanitarian aid into the area.
World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that due to the deliberately imposed famine in Gaza, even, even common illnesses like diarrhea have become dangerous diseases. He said this especially increases risks for children. He also called on the Zionists to immediately allow aid supplies into Gaza.
