Famine Officially Declared in Gaza: Urgent Action Required, Says UN

The United Nations has confirmed that over half a million people in Gaza are currently facing famine, a situation characterized by widespread starvation and preventable deaths, as reported in the latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) analysis released today. The UN warns that famine conditions are likely to extend to the Deir Al Balah and Khan Younis Governorates in the coming weeks.

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), UNICEF, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), and the World Health Organization (WHO) have collectively emphasized the urgent need for an immediate and comprehensive humanitarian response. “Hunger-related deaths are escalating rapidly, and levels of acute malnutrition are worsening,” the agencies stated, noting that many individuals are going days without food.

The UN agencies stress that “famine must be stopped at all costs.” They assert that an immediate ceasefire and an end to the conflict are critical to facilitate an unhindered and large-scale humanitarian response to save lives. There is heightened concern regarding the potential for intensified military operations in Gaza City, which could further exacerbate the humanitarian crisis, particularly for vulnerable groups such as sick and malnourished children, the elderly, and individuals with disabilities who may be unable to evacuate.

By the end of September, the UN predicts that more than 640,000 people in the Gaza Strip will face catastrophic food insecurity, classified as IPC Phase 5. Additionally, approximately 1.14 million individuals will be in Emergency (IPC Phase 4), and around 396,000 will be in Crisis (IPC Phase 3) conditions. Reports indicate that the situation in North Gaza is equally severe, if not worse, than in Gaza City, yet limited data restricts further classification, emphasizing the urgent need for access to assess and assist.

The classification of famine is determined when three critical thresholds—extreme food deprivation, acute malnutrition, and starvation-related deaths—are breached. The current analysis confirms that these criteria have now been met, marking the first official confirmation of famine in the Middle East.

The UN highlights that nearly two years of conflict, repeated displacements, and severe restrictions on humanitarian access have pushed people into starvation. Access to food remains critically limited, with a marked increase in households experiencing severe hunger. In July, the number of households reporting very severe hunger doubled compared to May, and it tripled in Gaza City. Alarmingly, over one-third of the population (39%) reported going days without food, with adults often skipping meals to feed their children.

The health situation is equally dire, with malnutrition among children accelerating at an alarming rate. In July alone, more than 12,000 children were identified as acutely malnourished—the highest monthly figure ever recorded, representing a six-fold increase since the start of the year. UNICEF reports that nearly one in four of these children is suffering from severe acute malnutrition (SAM), the deadliest form with significant short- and long-term impacts.

The UN’s assessment indicates that the number of children expected to be at severe risk of death from malnutrition has increased dramatically, from 14,100 in May to 43,400 by mid-2026. Additionally, the number of pregnant and breastfeeding women facing perilous levels of malnutrition has risen from an estimated 17,000 in May to 55,000.

The UN agencies emphasize the need for immediate and sustained humanitarian access. “People in Gaza have exhausted every possible means of survival,” stated FAO Director-General QU Dongyu. “Hunger and malnutrition are claiming lives every day, and the destruction of agricultural resources has exacerbated the situation. Our priority must be safe and sustained access for large-scale food assistance. Access to food is not a privilege; it is a basic human right.”

Cindy McCain, WFP Executive Director, reiterated, “Famine warnings have been clear for months. What is urgently needed now is a surge of aid, safer conditions, and proven distribution systems to reach those most in need—wherever they are. Full humanitarian access and a ceasefire are critical to save lives.”

UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell added, “Famine is now a grim reality for children in Gaza Governorate, and a looming threat in Deir al-Balah and Khan Younis. Without an immediate ceasefire and full humanitarian access, famine will spread, and more children will die. Those on the brink of starvation require the therapeutic feeding that UNICEF provides.”

WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stressed, “A ceasefire is an absolute and moral imperative now. The world has waited too long, witnessing tragic and unnecessary deaths from this man-made famine. The health system, overwhelmed and under-resourced, cannot cope. Gaza must urgently receive food and medicines to save lives and begin reversing malnutrition. Hospitals must be protected to continue treating patients, and barriers to aid must end so that healing can commence.”