Famine officially declared in Gaza City

London protest 17.05.25. ICN/JS

Source: IPC, Christian Aid

A famine has been officially declared today in Gaza City and the surrounding neighbourhoods, by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) - a globally recognised system for classifying the severity of food insecurity and malnutrition.

More half a million people are facing "catastrophic conditions", the report states.

Dr Ramiz Alakbarov, Humanitarian Coordinator for the Occupied Palestinian Territory, said: "Today's confirmation of famine in Gaza governorate isn't just another wake-up call. It is the blaring siren after months of alarms, and it's a signal of what may soon engulf other parts of the Strip.

"This catastrophe is entirely human-made. Despite repeated warnings, and tireless efforts to avert it, the political will to ensure unimpeded humanitarian operations by the UN and NGOs has tragically fallen short.

"Further escalation of the war will lead to more forced displacement, violence, and widespread destruction.

"It will further destroy remnants of health, water, sanitation and hygiene systems, and increase disease outbreaks, worsening the conditions that drive acute malnutrition.

"I call for the facilitation of swift and unhindered delivery of humanitarian aid and services and commercial supplies across the Gaza Strip through all crossings and land routes, including directly to the north and to Gaza city.

"I reiterate the urgent appeal for an immediate and permanent ceasefire. I call again for the immediate and unconditional release of hostages and those arbitrarily detained, who must all be treated humanely.

"Famine must be stopped at all costs. Ending it is a race against time."

Katie Roxburgh, Christian Aid's Programme Manager for Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory, said: "The people of Gaza already knew that they were living through a famine. Our colleagues describe the physical pain of hunger after months of surviving on a single small bowl of lentil soup each day. They describe family members passing out from fatigue and how malnutrition is causing their hair to fall out in clumps.

"Israel's blockade of Gaza is responsible for this suffering and it is unconscionable that we are now seeing the start of military operations to take over a city in the grip of famine, pushing close to a million people from their homes and exposing them to immense danger.

"Already we have seen the numbers of people who have starved to death in Gaza jump to more than 269 people, including more than 112 children. Our greatest fear is that unless the war in Gaza is quickly brought to an end, and aid is finally allowed to flood into Gaza unhindered, we are on the precipice of seeing hundreds more unnecessarily perish."has

Israel said the IPC report is based on "Hamas lies". It continues to restrict the amount of aid entering Gaza and has previously denied that there is starvation in the territory. This denial is in direct contradiction to what more than 100 humanitarian groups, including CAFOD partners, Caritas and Christian Aid - all witnesses on the ground, and multiple UN bodies - have said. See: ICN 14 August 2025: 100 organizations call for end to Israel's weaponization of aid www.indcatholicnews.com/news/53037..

At the UN press briefing and Q&A in Geneva today, Mr Tom Fletcher, Under-Secretary-general for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Co-ordinator said:

"Please read the IPC report, cover to cover. Read it in sorrow and in anger. Not as words and numbers but as names and lives. Be in no doubt that this is irrefutable testimony.

"It is a famine. The Gaza Famine.

"It is a famine that we could have prevented, if we had been allowed. Yet food stacks up at borders because of systematic obstruction by Israel.

"It is a famine within a few hundred metres of food, in a fertile land.

"It is a famine that hits the most vulnerable first. Each with a name, each with a story. That strips people of dignity before it strips them of life. That forces a parent to choose which child to feed. That forces people to risk their lives to seek food.

"It is a famine that we repeatedly warned of. But that the international media has not been allowed in to cover. To bear witness.

"It is a famine in 2025. A 21st century famine watched over by drones and the most advanced military technology in history.

"It is a famine openly promoted by some Israeli leaders as a weapon of war.

"It is a famine on all of our watch. Everyone owns this. The Gaza Famine is the world's famine. It is a famine that asks 'but what did you do?' A famine that will and must haunt us all.

"It is a predictable and a preventable famine. A famine caused by cruelty, justified by revenge, enabled by indifference and sustained by complicity.

"It is a famine that must spur the world to more urgent action. That must shame the world to do better. It is a famine that therefore also asks '… and what now will you do?'

"My ask, my plea, my demand to Prime Minister Netanyahu and anyone who can reach him:

"Enough. Ceasefire. Open the crossings, north and south, all of them. Let us get food and other supplies in, unimpeded and at the massive scale required. End the retribution. It is too late for far too many. But not for everyone in Gaza. Enough. For humanity's sake, let us in."