Global Food Authority Declares Famine in Gaza for the First Time
The world’s top organization tracking food crises warned on Friday that famine has taken hold in Gaza City, the territory’s largest urban centre. Without a ceasefire and the lifting of restrictions on aid, it cautioned, the crisis could engulf the rest of Gaza.
According to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), famine conditions are already present in Gaza City, where hundreds of thousands live. If the situation does not change, the IPC projects that the crisis could spread south to Deir al-Balah and Khan Younis by the end of next month.
This declaration follows months of alerts from humanitarian groups, who have said that Israel’s blockade of food and essential supplies, coupled with ongoing military operations, has pushed civilians — especially children — to the brink of starvation.