Gaza: Since October 2023, Gaza has been engulfed in a humanitarian disaster characterized by heavy military assaults, obstructed humanitarian aid, and a collapsed health system. Acute starvation and malnutrition have become rampant, with the situation now reaching catastrophic proportions. Approximately 98% of cropland is damaged or inaccessible, crippling agriculture and local food production. Nine out of ten people have been displaced to unsafe locations, and the scarcity of cash, food, fuel, and water has exacerbated the crisis. According to the Gaza Ministry of Health, at least 273 people, including 112 children, have died from starvation as of August 22.
According to Anadolu Agency, the United Nations declared a famine in Gaza on August 22, following the alarming findings of the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) report. The report confirmed that over half a million people are experiencing catastrophic famine conditions in the Gaza Governorate, with the potential for the crisis to spread to Central and Southern Gaza, affecting an additional one million Palestinians. The dire conditions in North Gaza remain unclassified due to insufficient data, and Rafah has been excluded from analysis as it is largely destroyed and depopulated.
The famine declaration process is highly technical and conservative, often resulting in delayed recognition of crises. The IPC requires thorough data collection and verification procedures, making it reactive rather than preventive. In Gaza, the destruction of infrastructure and blockade have left nearly the entire population facing hunger. The IPC assesses three conditions to declare famine: extreme food shortages in one-fifth of households, acute malnutrition in one-third of children, and two adults per 10,000 people dying daily from hunger-related causes. Gaza meets all three criteria, highlighting the need for urgent action.
The IPC's Famine Review Committee has issued five reports on Gaza since December 2023, emphasizing the worsening crisis. Despite warnings, Israel has not addressed or alleviated the situation. Reports express concern over civilian casualties during food distributions by the controversial Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), established by Israel and the United States. Civilians face attacks while seeking food, and GHF operations, with only four centers in combat zones, are criticized as non-humanitarian. Recent food airdrops by Israel, the UAE, and Jordan have resulted in deaths and injuries during chaotic retrievals in Gaza.
The IPC report concludes that Gaza's famine is entirely man-made, calling for an immediate, large-scale response to prevent further deaths, particularly among vulnerable populations. The famine declaration pressures governments and agencies to act and serves as evidence for accountability. Israeli leaders, however, dismiss the report as false, with media outlets echoing these narratives. The famine declaration has significant legal implications, as the deliberate use of hunger as a weapon constitutes war crimes and crimes against humanity.
The report urges the international community to enact a ceasefire and deliver therapeutic food to prevent further deaths. It is a collective obligation of all UN member states to address the crisis, with history set to judge those who fail to act harshly.