Famine declared in Gaza as U.N. humanitarian chief pleads for access

GENEVA (AN) — A famine is officially confirmed in Gaza by a global food security body, the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, a designation U.N. officials said is "entirely man-made" and can be halted.

The IPC's Famine Review Committee determined on Friday that famine, or IPC Phase 5, is currently taking place, with its report based on "irrefutable testimony" from the region. This marks the first time a famine has been officially confirmed in the Middle East region. The finding marks only the fifth time in IPC's history that such a classification has been made.

The official declaration was accompanied by a rare and forceful denunciation from Tom Fletcher, the U.N. undersecretary-general for humanitarian affairs. In a press briefing, he said the crisis was "a predictable and a preventable famine" and was "caused by cruelty, justified by revenge, enabled by indifference and sustained by complicity."

"This is a famine on all of our watch," Fletcher said, adding, "My ask, my plea, my demand to Prime Minister Netanyahu and anyone else who can reach him: enough. Ceasefire. Open the crossings, north and south, all of them. Let us get food and other supplies in, unimpeded and at the massive scale required. End the retribution. It is too late for far too many. But not for everyone in Gaza. Enough. For humanity’s sake, let us in."

Israel’s ministry of foreign affairs, however, said in response to the IPC report that "there is no famine in Gaza."

Asked about the world's shame and collective punishment, Fletcher responded, "This is a moment of collective shame." He said the famine was preventable but food was being held at the borders because of "systematic obstruction."

When a reporter asked about Israelis who deny the famine, Fletcher said many Israelis, including survivors of the Oct. 7th attacks, want the food to get in. He urged everyone to read the report and be moved to action.

Dire conditions and rapid deterioration

The IPC report indicates a "worst-case scenario" is unfolding in the Gaza Strip. After almost two years of conflict, more than half a million people are facing catastrophic conditions characterized by starvation, destitution and death.

The report highlights the most extreme category of famine is triggered when three critical thresholds are breached: extreme food deprivation, acute malnutrition, and starvation-related deaths. The latest analysis affirms that these criteria have been met.

"Just when it seems there are no words left to describe the living hell in Gaza, a new one has been added: famine," said U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres, who called for an immediate ceasefire, release of all hostages and unrestricted humanitarian access.

"This is not a mystery – it is a man-made disaster, a moral indictment, and a failure of humanity itself. Famine is not only about food; it is the deliberate collapse of the systems needed for human survival," he said.

As the occupying power, Guterres said, Israel "has unequivocal obligations under international law – including the duty of ensuring food and medical supplies of the population. We cannot allow this situation to continue with impunity."

The analysis shows that an additional 1.14 million people, or 54% of the population, are in an emergency phase of hunger, or IPC Phase 4, while 396,000 people, or 20%, are in a crisis phase, or IPC Phase 3. Conditions in North Gaza Governorate are believed to be equally, or more, severe.

The IPC committee projects that famine will expand to the Deir al-Balah and Khan Younis governorates in the coming weeks, a trajectory that will push nearly a third of the population, or 641,000 people, into catastrophic conditions by the end of September.

Acute malnutrition is projected to worsen rapidly.

"At least 132,000 children under five are expected to suffer from acute malnutrition" through June 2026, according to the report. The report notes that in July alone, more than 12,000 children were identified as acutely malnourished—the highest monthly figure ever recorded and a six-fold increase since the start of the year.

The figure is double IPC's estimates from May 2025, and includes over 41,000 severe cases at heightened risk of death. Nearly 55,500 malnourished pregnant and breastfeeding women will also require urgent nutrition responses.

This is a significant increase from the 17,000 cases estimated in May, with one in five babies being born prematurely or underweight.

Calls for an immediate ceasefire

U.N. officials attribute the crisis to the ongoing conflict and what they describe as "systematic obstruction" of aid by Israel. They have also raised grave concerns about the threat of an intensified military offensive in Gaza City and any escalation in the conflict, as it would have further devastating consequences for civilians.

"The time for debate and hesitation has passed, starvation is present and is rapidly spreading," said the IPC committee's report, which makes clear call for a political solution to allow humanitarian action.

"Any further delay — even by days — will result in a totally unacceptable escalation of famine-related mortality," the report said.

The IPC and its committee have called for an "immediate and sustained ceasefire" to allow humanitarian aid, food supplies and basic health, nutrition, and water and sanitation services to be restored. This is crucial as approximately 98% of cropland in the territory is damaged or inaccessible, and the health system has severely deteriorated, with access to safe drinking water and sanitation drastically reduced.

The restoration of these services is deemed critical to prevent an "exponential" increase in avoidable deaths. The U.N. agencies have also emphasized the need for greater amounts of food aid, along with dramatically improved delivery, distribution, and accessibility, as well as shelter, fuel, cooking gas, and food production inputs.

"People in Gaza have exhausted every possible means of survival," said FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu. "Hunger and malnutrition are claiming lives every day, and the destruction of cropland, livestock, greenhouses, fishery and food production systems has made the situation even more dire."

WFP Executive Director Cindy McCain said what’s 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 now are critical to save lives."

Famine is now a grim reality for children in Gaza Governorate, said UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell, and a looming threat in Deir al-Balah and Khan Younis. "There is no time to lose," she said. "Without an immediate ceasefire and full humanitarian access, famine will spread, and more children will die."

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the world has "waited too long, watching tragic and unnecessary deaths mount from this man-made famine. ... Gaza must be urgently supplied with food and medicines to save lives and begin the process of reversing malnutrition."