For the first time, a United Nations-backed agency has confirmed that famine conditions are unfolding in Gaza, with more than half a million people now facing what it describes as “hunger, poverty and death.” The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), which monitors global food security, has stated that the situation in Gaza has deteriorated to its worst level, warning that parts of the territory are already gripped by famine.

According to the IPC, famine is present in Gaza City and surrounding areas, and unless urgent measures are taken, the situation will worsen in other regions as well. The report predicts that by the end of September, Deir al-Balah and Khan Younis will also descend into catastrophic conditions. The assessment further stressed that the famine in Gaza is entirely man-made and could still be prevented with adequate humanitarian response.

The IPC does not formally declare famine but provides scientific analysis to inform governments and international organizations. Based on its criteria, the current conditions in Gaza meet the thresholds that allow institutions to announce famine declarations.

Israel has strongly rejected the IPC’s findings, dismissing the report as false and biased. The Israeli military body responsible for coordinating aid deliveries into Gaza, known as COGAT, argued that the report relies on “partial, distorted and unverifiable information” provided by Hamas, describing the conclusions as inaccurate.

Meanwhile, four UN agencies—the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the World Food Programme (WFP), and the World Health Organization (WHO)—issued a joint statement reiterating their call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and for unhindered humanitarian access to prevent further deaths from hunger and malnutrition. The agencies highlighted that the scale of suffering among Gaza’s civilians, particularly children, has reached unprecedented levels.

According to figures from the Hamas-run Health Ministry in Gaza, at least 271 people, including 112 children, have died from hunger and malnutrition since Israel launched its military campaign in October 2023. The UN agencies warned that famine must be stopped at any cost, emphasizing that intensifying military operations in Gaza City and any further escalation of the conflict would have devastating consequences for civilians.

The joint statement also reported that malnutrition among children in Gaza is rising at an alarming rate. In July alone, more than 12,000 children were identified as suffering from severe malnutrition. Nearly one in four of these children were in a state of acute malnutrition, conditions that carry both immediate and long-term consequences for survival, health, and development.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres responded to the IPC’s findings by describing famine as the latest grim addition to what he called Gaza’s “living hell.” He said the crisis is not a mystery but rather “a man-made catastrophe, a moral outrage and a failure of humanity.”

“Famine is not only about food; it represents the deliberate collapse of systems that people need to survive,” Guterres stated. He underscored that Israel has a clear obligation under international law to ensure access to food, medicine, and other essential supplies for the civilian population.

The UN chief warned against allowing impunity to persist, saying the world could no longer accept excuses for inaction. “The time to act is not tomorrow, but now. We need an immediate ceasefire, the immediate release of all hostages, and full, unhindered humanitarian access into Gaza,” he added.

The crisis in Gaza has steadily escalated since Israel began its military offensive following the Hamas attacks in October 2023. Blockades, widespread destruction of infrastructure, and restrictions on aid have left the enclave’s residents in dire conditions. The latest confirmation of famine marks a critical turning point in the humanitarian disaster, drawing renewed international calls for urgent intervention.

The UN agencies emphasized that the collapse of food security in Gaza represents not only a humanitarian tragedy but also a profound failure of the global community to prevent preventable suffering. With more than half a million people already facing extreme hunger, the situation continues to deteriorate as the conflict drags on without resolution.

As the international debate intensifies, the people of Gaza remain caught in a cycle of violence, deprivation, and loss. The IPC assessment and the UN’s subsequent appeal underline the urgent need for political will and coordinated action to avert further catastrophe in the besieged territory.