Over Half Million Face Catastrophic Hunger in Gaza Amid Blockade

A series of reports from the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) warn that Gaza faces an imminent famine crisis, with nearly half a million people at risk of starvation and the entire population experiencing severe to catastrophic food insecurity. The crisis has worsened significantly since October due to a blockade imposed by Israel since early March, which has severely restricted the entry of food, medical supplies, and humanitarian aid, while local food production has been decimated after 19 months of conflict. The IPC projects that by the end of September, 22 percent of Gaza's population will endure catastrophic hunger levels, with over one million more at emergency levels. Despite Israeli officials asserting that aid deliveries are sufficient, the IPC and FAO criticize current aid plans as inadequate and warn that delays in restoring humanitarian access will deepen hunger and accelerate starvation. The FAO highlights the collapse of agriculture and the risk of deadly epidemics, calling for urgent lifting of blockades and immediate resumption of aid to protect livelihoods and uphold the right to food. Urgent international action is deemed critical to prevent further human suffering and avert a full-scale famine in Gaza.