First Official Famine in Gaza
A UN-backed report released on Friday confirmed famine in parts of the Gaza Strip the first officially declared famine in the Middle East. Over half a million people, around a quarter of Gazas population, are trapped in starvation, concentrated in Gaza City and spreading southward to Deir al-Balah and Khan Younis.
Measuring the Crisis
The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) sets strict thresholds: at least 20% of households must be starving, 30% of children must suffer acute malnutrition, and hunger-related deaths must exceed two per 10,000 people daily. By late September, the report predicts over 640,000 Palestinians or 30% of the population will face catastrophic food insecurity, with 1.14 million more at emergency levels. Nearly 98% of Gazas cropland is damaged or off-limits.
Life on the Edge
Every morning, tens of thousands queue for hours, hoping to score scarce aidoften returning empty-handed. "I eat one meal a day, saving food for my children," says Hadi Al-Sorani, a father of two in Gaza City. In Zeitoun, mother of three Umm Ahmed survives on flatbread, fearing for her five-year-olds life.
Childhood malnutrition has skyrocketed: July alone saw 12,000 acutely malnourished children, a sixfold increase since the year began. One in five babies is born prematurely or underweight. At Al-Shifa Hospital, pediatrician Ahmed Yousef warns, "We are losing children due to the lack of specialized medicines and nutrients."
Pressure Mounts for Aid
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called the situation "a human-made disaster" and urged Israel, as the occupying power, to fulfill its obligations under international law. Philippe Lazzarini of UNRWA described the starvation as "by design," blaming months-long aid bans.
Israel has denied the famine designation. Yet many experts believe the UN report could galvanize international pressure, pushing for a ceasefire and unhindered delivery of life-saving supplies. The window to prevent further catastrophe remains narrow but not closed.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
