Gaza Faces Catastrophic Hunger as Aid Fails to Meet Needs
Two of three starvation thresholds are now exceeded in parts of Gaza, sparking dire warnings from WFP and Unicef about a rapidly closing window for life-saving aid.
GAZA STRIP – The situation in Gaza is dire, with hundreds of thousands facing a catastrophic hunger crisis. The ongoing conflict, the collapse of essential services, and severe restrictions on humanitarian aid delivery have created a perfect storm for widespread starvation.
Have two starvation thresholds now been exceeded in Gaza? Yes, according to the IPC alarm, two of the three critical starvation thresholds have been breached in parts of the territory, signaling an escalating crisis.
Food consumption, a key famine indicator, has plummeted in Gaza since May 2025. Data reveals a staggering 39% of the population is going without food for days. Over 500,000 people, nearly a quarter of Gaza’s population, are experiencing famine-like conditions, with the rest facing emergency-level food insecurity.
Malnutrition Rates Skyrocket Among Children
Acute malnutrition, another crucial famine indicator, has reached unprecedented levels. In Gaza City, malnutrition in children under five has quadrupled in just two months, now standing at 16.5%. This represents a critical decline in nutritional status and a heightened risk of death from hunger.
Reports of deaths due to hunger and malnutrition are becoming more frequent, though collecting reliable data is challenging. Gaza’s health system, already devastated by years of conflict, is collapsing, further complicating efforts to track and address the crisis.
“The unbearable suffering of the people in Gaza is already clearly visible to the world,” said Cindy McCain, executive director of the WFP. “It is irresponsible to wait for the official confirmation of a famine to provide the life-saving food aid that you urgently need.”
By July 2025, over 320,000 children, the entire population under five in Gaza, were at risk of acute malnutrition. Thousands suffered from severe acute malnutrition, the most dangerous form. Basic nutritional services have collapsed, leaving infants without access to clean water, milk substitutes, or therapeutic food.
June saw 6,500 children treated for malnutrition, the highest number since the conflict began. In the first two weeks of July alone, 5,000 children were recorded. With less than 15% of nutritional services operational, the risk of infant mortality from malnutrition is alarmingly high.
“Children and babies are dying from malnutrition in Gaza,” stated Unicef Executive Director Catherine Russell. “We need immediate, safe, and unimpeded humanitarian access throughout Gaza to deliver life-saving food, nutritional supplements, water, and medication.”
Despite border openings, Gaza receives only a fraction of the necessary humanitarian aid. These deliveries fall far short of the monthly needs for over two million people.
More than 62,000 tons of relief are required monthly to meet basic food and nutritional needs. Resuming commercial food imports is also vital for a varied diet, including fresh produce and protein sources.
The lack of fuel, water, and other essential goods continues to hamper famine prevention efforts and exacerbate child mortality.
- Two of three starvation thresholds are exceeded in Gaza.
- Child malnutrition rates have quadrupled in some areas.
- Humanitarian aid is significantly below monthly needs.
- Urgent calls for a ceasefire and unimpeded aid access persist.
UN organizations welcome recent promises to improve humanitarian operations, including breaks and corridors. They hope these measures will increase aid delivery to those in urgent need.
The UN organizations reiterate their urgent demands for:
- An immediate and permanent ceasefire to end the killing, allow hostage release, and ensure humanitarian aid flow.
- Safe and unimpeded access for humanitarian aid through all border crossings.
- The urgent restoration of trade and commercial supply chains.
- Protection for civilians and aid workers, and the restoration of basic services like health and water infrastructure.
- Investment in local nutrition systems, including bakeries, markets, and agriculture.
