By Nyang’au Araka
More than half a million people in Gaza are now trapped in famine, facing starvation, destitution, and preventable death.
This is according to a new Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) analysis released jointly by the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), World Health Organization (WHO), and the World Food Programme (WFP).
The report confirms that famine conditions—marked by extreme food deprivation, acute malnutrition, and starvation-related deaths—have been met in Gaza Governorate and are projected to spread to Deir Al Balah and Khan Younis in the coming weeks.
“This is the first time famine has been officially confirmed in the Middle East,” the agencies stated, warning of the most severe deterioration since IPC began monitoring food insecurity in Gaza.
By the end of September, over 640,000 people will face catastrophic hunger (IPC Phase 5), with another 1.14 million in emergency conditions and nearly 400,000 in crisis.
Children are bearing the brunt, according to the agencies’ joint statement obtained by KPC on Friday.
In July alone, more than 12,000 children were acutely malnourished—a six-fold increase since January.
“Famine is now a grim reality for children in Gaza,” said UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell.
“Babies are dying from hunger and preventable disease. There is no time to lose.”
The destruction of cropland, livestock, and food systems, coupled with repeated displacement and restricted humanitarian access, has left 98% of Gaza’s farmland damaged or inaccessible.
Nine in ten residents have been displaced, and food prices have soared beyond reach.
“People in Gaza have exhausted every possible means of survival,” said FAO Director-General QU Dongyu.
“Access to food is not a privilege—it is a basic human right.”
Health systems are collapsing under the weight of malnutrition and disease. “Even mild illnesses like diarrhoea are becoming fatal,” said WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
“Hospitals must be protected, and Gaza must be urgently supplied with food and medicine.”
The agencies are united in their call for an immediate and sustained ceasefire to allow unimpeded humanitarian access, restore essential services, and prevent further loss of life.
“Famine warnings have been clear for months,” said WFP Executive Director Cindy McCain.
“What’s urgently needed now is a surge of aid and safe conditions to reach those most in need—wherever they are.”