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“The worst hunger scenario is currently happening in Gaza,” said the integrated classification of the Food Security Phase (IPC), a UN support agency supported by the UN. The statement represents the most serious warning ever issued by the institution about the growing crisis in the Palestinian enclave, while images of malnourished children circulate and increase criticism of Israel’s actions in the conflict.
Gaza lives ‘the worst hungry scenario as possible’, warns UN food security panel. Photo: Reproduction
According to the IPC report, “conflicts and displacements intensified, and access to food and other essential items and services has fallen to unprecedented levels.” The agency points out that “growing evidence shows that widespread hunger, malnutrition and diseases are causing an increase in hunger -related deaths.”
Since the last IPC update in May 2025, food consumption – the main indicator of hunger – plummeted in Gaza. The data reveal that 39% of the population spends a straight days without feeding. About 500,000 people, almost a quarter of the region’s inhabitants, live in hunger -like conditions. The rest faces emergency levels of food insecurity.
Another alarming data is the growth of acute malnutrition-second key indicator of hunger. In the first half of July, malnutrition hit the hunger threshold in the city of Gaza. Between April and mid -July, more than 20,000 children were admitted to acute malnutrition, more than 3,000 in serious condition. Hospitals reported at least 16 deaths of children under five since July 17.
Despite the difficulty in collecting accurate information, due to the collapse of health systems after nearly three years of conflict, the number of cases of acute malnutrition and reports of inanition deaths has grown rapidly, the UN agency warned.
“Gaza is now on the brink of widespread hunger. People are hungry not because there are no foods available, but because access is blocked, local agri-food systems have collapsed and families can no longer support even the most basic subsistence means,” said United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
According to the latest data, 320,000 children under the age of five are at risk of acute malnutrition, with thousands of them affected by the most severe and deadly form. Without access to drinking water, breast milk or therapeutic food, nutrition services collapsed.
In June, 6,500 children were admitted to nutritional treatment – the largest number since the beginning of the war. In the first two weeks of July alone, this number has exceeded 5,000. With less than 15% of treatment services working, the risk of death between babies and young children has never been so high, according to the IPC.
Israel resumes humanitarian aid
Over the weekend, Israel announced that it would allow more humanitarian aid to reach the population of three regions of Gaza. The military said the measure “would refrain from false allegation of deliberate hunger in the Gaza Strip.”
However, according to the UN, even with the partial reopening of crossings, the humanitarian aid that arrives in Gaza is insufficient to meet the basic needs of the population, which exceeds two million people.
It is estimated that more than 62,000 tons of food and nutritional aid are required per month to meet the demand. In addition, the resumption of commercial food imports is essential to ensure a dietified diet with fruits, vegetables, dairy, meat and fish.
This, added to fuel shortages, drinking water and other inputs, makes efforts to contain hunger and prevent new deaths of children further, the report.
