On Friday, a global hunger monitoring organization declared that Gaza City and its surrounding areas are officially suffering from famine. The organization stated that this famine could worsen in the near future. This assessment adds pressure on Israel to allow humanitarian aid into the Palestinian territories.
The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification System (IPC) stated that around 514,000 people, nearly a quarter of Gaza's Palestinian population, are facing famine conditions. This figure is projected to increase to 641,000 by the end of September.
Approximately 280,000 of these individuals reside in the northern area of Gaza City, known as the Gaza Governorate. According to the IPC, after nearly two years of conflict between Israel and Hamas, this region has succumbed to famine.
This marks the first time that the IPC has recorded a famine outside of Africa. The global body predicts that by the end of next month, the famine conditions will spread to the central and southern regions around Deir al-Balah and Khan Yunis.
It is noted that conditions in the northern area might be worse than Gaza City, although limited data has prevented an accurate classification.
Israel has outrightly rejected the report, calling it false and biased. Israel has argued that the IPC's survey relied on partial data provided by Hamas. Israel also pointed out that food distribution had recently occurred in Gaza, a factor not reflected in the survey.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry stated, 'There is no famine in Gaza.'
A region is declared famine-stricken if 20% of its population is suffering severe food shortages, with one in three children severely malnourished, and two out of every 10,000 inhabitants dying from starvation or malnutrition-related diseases daily. Previously, the IPC had only recorded famine in Somalia, South Sudan, and Sudan.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called the Gaza famine a 'man-made disaster and a failure of humanity.' He urged an immediate ceasefire, the release of all hostages by Hamas, and the urgent delivery of relief supplies to Gaza.
He stressed, 'People are dying of hunger. Children are losing their lives. Those who bear the responsibility to act are failing... we cannot let this situation continue.'
UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk stated that the famine in Gaza is due to the policies of the Israeli government, warning that deaths from starvation may equate to war crimes.
The IPC's decision to declare Gaza famine-stricken followed criticism of Israel by countries like Britain, Canada, Australia, and several European nations, who stated that imagining the humanitarian crisis in Gaza is unfathomable.
Even the United States, a major ally of Israel, expressed concern about the situation in Gaza. Last month, President Donald Trump noted widespread hunger in the area, leading to a rift with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who continuously asserts that there is no famine in Gaza and blames the scarcity of food on Hamas.
Image of the dire situation in Gaza captured by Reuters. This photograph underscores the critical humanitarian crisis facing the region.
