The UN-backed IPC warns of a "worst-case scenario of famine" unfolding in Gaza, with 1.1 million facing catastrophic hunger. Urgent ceasefire and aid access are needed to avert mass starvation.
Andrew Juma, DigitalWorldwideNews.com
July 29, 2025
On July 29, 2025, the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), a UN-backed global hunger monitor, issued a dire alert: a "worst-case scenario of famine" is unfolding in Gaza. With mounting evidence of widespread starvation, malnutrition, and hunger-related deaths, the crisis has reached unprecedented levels. The IPC projects that 1.1 million people—half of Gaza’s population—are facing catastrophic hunger (IPC Phase 5), driven by ongoing conflict, restricted aid, and collapsing infrastructure. Below, we answer key questions to shed light on this humanitarian catastrophe.
The IPC attributes Gaza’s famine to relentless conflict and severe restrictions on humanitarian and commercial aid. Since March 2024, Israel’s blockade has drastically limited food, water, and medical supplies, exacerbating food insecurity. In Gaza City, malnutrition rates surged from 4.4% in May to 16.5% in July 2025, with two-fifths of pregnant and breastfeeding women acutely malnourished. Over 20,000 children were admitted for malnutrition treatment between April and mid-July, with 16 hunger-related child deaths reported since July 17. The lack of clean water, sanitation, and healthcare, coupled with frequent displacements, has pushed Gaza’s 2.23 million people into acute food insecurity.
Israel’s military operations and stringent border controls have severely restricted aid deliveries. Since March 2, 2025, no humanitarian supplies entered northern Gaza for weeks, and only minimal trucks reached southern areas. The closure of border crossings, including Kerem Shalom, and insecurity around aid convoys have led to looting by desperate residents. The IPC notes that food prices have skyrocketed—a kilogram of flour costs up to £45—making essentials unaffordable. UN agencies report warehouses in Egypt hold enough food to feed Gaza for three months, but Israel’s restrictions prevent delivery. Israel recently allowed 10-hour daily “tactical pauses” and airdrops, but aid groups say these are insufficient without open land routes.
Children and mothers are the hardest hit. UNICEF reports that 71,000 children and 17,000 mothers require urgent malnutrition treatment. In northern Gaza, one in three children under two is acutely malnourished, and hospitals report rising deaths among emaciated infants. Journalists in Gaza, like BBC freelancers, describe personal struggles to feed their families, with some resorting to one meal a day or drinking salted water to suppress hunger. Vulnerable groups, including those with disabilities, face extreme deprivation, with families skipping meals to prioritize children. The Gaza Health Ministry reported 111 starvation deaths since the war began, including 10 in a single day in July.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres called Gaza’s situation “intolerable,” urging an immediate ceasefire and unrestricted aid access. UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher emphasized that the next few days are “make or break” for aid delivery. World Food Programme’s Cindy McCain labeled waiting for a formal famine declaration “unconscionable,” demanding immediate large-scale food aid. U.S. President Donald Trump acknowledged “real starvation” in Gaza, contradicting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s claim that no starvation exists. Netanyahu denies a starvation policy, blaming distribution failures on the UN, while Israel faces accusations of using hunger as a weapon, which it rejects.
The IPC stresses that only an immediate ceasefire and unimpeded humanitarian access can halt the crisis. Opening all border crossings, ensuring convoy safety, and restoring health, water, and sanitation services are critical. The World Food Programme and UNICEF are ready to deliver aid but need Israel to lift restrictions. The FAO is distributing fodder to save livestock, vital for milk production, but requires better access. International pressure is mounting, with the Netherlands banning Israeli ministers for opposing aid, and the UN pushing for a two-state solution to resolve the broader conflict.
Gaza has faced food insecurity since the Israel-Hamas war intensified in October 2023, killing over 59,000, according to local health officials. A six-week ceasefire earlier in 2025 briefly improved aid flows, but Israel’s renewed blockade in March reversed gains. The IPC has warned of famine risk since December 2023, with northern Gaza classified in IPC Phase 5 since March 2024. Independent experts, citing child deaths like six-month-old Fayez Ataya, argue famine is already present, accusing Israel of genocidal starvation tactics—a charge Israel and the U.S. deny.
Without urgent action, the IPC projects famine across all Gaza governorates by July 2025, with Rafah at risk if a ground offensive occurs. The international community, including the UN Security Council, is pressing for a ceasefire and aid access. UN agencies warn that delays will escalate deaths, particularly among children. As hospitals overflow and markets empty, Gaza’s survival hinges on political will to end hostilities and open borders. The crisis, likened to Ethiopia and Biafra famines, demands global attention to avert further catastrophe.
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