UN-Backed Body Confirms Famine in Gaza Affecting 500,000+

A United Nations-backed body, the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), has officially declared famine in the Gaza Governorate, marking the first such declaration in the area amid Israel's ongoing military assault. The report highlights that the famine is entirely man-made, primarily due to Israel's blockade, destruction of infrastructure, and restrictions on humanitarian aid, which have driven over half a million people into catastrophic conditions characterized by starvation and acute malnutrition. Projections warn that by the end of September, famine conditions could spread to central and southern Gaza, affecting hundreds of thousands more, including 132,000 children under five at risk of death from acute malnutrition. UN Secretary-General António Guterres condemned the famine as a "man-made disaster" and urged Israel to meet its obligations under international law to ensure food and medical supplies reach Gaza's population. The humanitarian crisis is worsening, with the IPC emphasizing that any delay in response could result in unacceptable escalation of famine-related deaths, and international voices labeling the use of starvation as a war crime. Despite criticism from some Israeli representatives, the call for immediate, large-scale humanitarian intervention remains urgent to prevent further loss of life.