The IPC officially confirms famine in Gaza City, affecting over 500,000 people. UN agencies call it a man-made disaster and urge immediate ceasefire and aid.

Famine Declared in Gaza — Global Hunger Monitor Issues Dire Warning

A startling declaration from the global hunger-monitoring body, the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), has confirmed that Gaza City has entered famine status, marking a grim milestone in the region’s two-year conflict. Conditions are projected to worsen and spread to central and southern governorates — including Deir al-Balah and Khan Younis — by the end of September. As of August 22, 2025, some 514,000 people, nearly a quarter of Gaza’s population, are already enduring famine-level conditions, with projections estimating that number could rise to 641,000 in just weeks.

IPC Findings — Scale, Scope, and Projections

Body (approx. 150 words):
The IPC’s declaration is grounded in clear criteria: at least 20% of the population suffering extreme food shortages, one in three children acutely malnourished, and daily starvation-related mortality exceeding two per 10,000 people. Gaza City (Gaza Governorate) is already in famine. Deir al-Balah and Khan Younis are expected to join those ranks by the end of September if conditions don’t improve. Overall, more than 500,000 people face life-threatening hunger now, with projections nearing 641,000 — nearly one-third of the population — descending into the worst food insecurity phase.

A Man-Made Disaster — UN’s Urgent Plea

Body (approx. 150 words):
UN officials are unequivocal — the famine is “man-made.” UN Secretary-General António Guterres called it “a failure of humanity,” and demanded immediate action to reverse the crisis. WHO, FAO, UNICEF, and WFP jointly warned of rapidly escalating deaths, malnutrition rates, and collapsing health infrastructures — especially among children and pregnant or breastfeeding women. They stressed that famine can be halted by guaranteeing large-scale humanitarian assistance and a ceasefire to ensure safe and unhindered aid delivery, restore basic services, and rebuild food systems.

Israel Denies Famine Amid Escalating Humanitarian Fallout

Body (approx. 150 words):
Israel’s military aid coordination body, COGAT, dismissed the IPC report as “false and biased,” accusing the document of relying on data from Hamas and claiming recent increases in aid deliveries and lower food prices render the famine claims unjustified. Yet humanitarian organizations, the UN, and independent experts warn that logistical restrictions, insecurity, and widespread infrastructure destruction — including looted aid trucks and impassable crossings — continue to thwart life-saving relief.

Children Bearing the Brunt — Starvation Among the Most Vulnerable

Body (approx. 150 words):
It’s children who are suffering most acutely. Reports indicate a surge in child malnutrition and deaths — over 130 children reportedly died from malnutrition alone in August 2025. With therapeutic food supplies critically low, many families report skipping meals or going without food for days. Medical teams warn that without a durable ceasefire and a massive escalation in aid, thousands more children may perish in the coming months.

What It Means — Why Global Action Is Imperative

Conclusion (approx. 100 words):
The IPC’s famine declaration for Gaza is a stark signal: the region is facing the first officially confirmed famine in the Middle East and the fifth globally in 14 years. This humanitarian catastrophe demands immediate international intervention. A large-scale, sustained humanitarian response — coupled with a ceasefire — could still save innumerable lives. But without urgent action, famine will continue to spread, with children and the most vulnerable paying the steepest price.