GAZA CITY, August 22, 2025 — The International Food Security Phase Classification (IFPC) has declared famine is gripping Gaza City – making this first instance in the Middle East where this issue has been raised by them. Their experts issued dire warnings that without immediate ceasefire and unhindered humanitarian access this catastrophe may spread further south into Deir al-Balah and Khan Younis areas. [Sources: Columbian/AP News/WLWT]. Aid workers say the consequences have been particularly devastating for children. One Action Against Hunger volunteer stationed in Deir al-Balah reported witnessing “the highest number of severe acute malnutrition cases since we began operations in Gaza in 2024.” Between July and August alone, nutrition teams received over 400 cases of malnourished children–20 percent in critical condition-according to Action Against Hunger. Save the Children estimates that at least 132,000 children under five are now at risk of fatal acute malnutrition and that number is expected to continue increasing until June 2026, according to Action Against Hunger + Save the Children + Al Jazeera estimates. Hospitals across Gaza report rising numbers of malnourished children coming in with no underlying conditions but who have been starved and weakened by disease, many succumbing to infections their compromised bodies cannot fight off, such as BMJ +4, WLWT +4, Wikipedia+4. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has condemned the current crisis as “man-made disaster, moral indictment, and failure of humanity itself”, with famine occurring as a direct result of insufficient food provision, as he emphasizes. Famine in Gaza is caused by deliberate collapse of survival systems rather than simply lack of food.Wikipedia +15Al Jazeera +15Washington Post All these accounts indicate an absence of food supply to Gazans with many starving to death due to inadequate sustenance provision from outside sources.Wikipedia +15 Al Jazeera +15Washington Post +15 On the ground in Gaza, according to its health ministry’s estimates as of mid-August, 251 people had already perished from starvation-related illness or starvation-related diseases – half of them children, according to Wikipedia’s reports. Targeting and destruction of vital food infrastructure – including bakeries, flour mills and food storage facilities- as well as an aid blockade has escalated food insecurity into full-blown famine, according to The Washington Post and Wikipedia (+5) Even so, Israel rejects IPC findings on Gaza with accusations of bias and asserts that enough aid is reaching Gaza. Prime Minister Netanyahu called famine claims “lies,” while COGAT agency called the report false and biased by noting increased aid convoys recently (The Guardian + 4 for more); additionally these results can be found here (AP News+4) WLWT+4 for more. However, UN officials and health workers dispute the access granted to them, citing logistical obstacles, looting, and potentially limited supplies (Wikipedia+12; AP News +12; The Times of India). Humanitarian organizations like UNICEF, WFP, FAO and WHO have joined together in calling for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire, saying this is necessary in order to provide lifesaving food, water, healthcare services and sanitation throughout Gaza. World Food Program USA recently made this request. As the war enters its 22nd month, Gaza faces not only its first officially announced famine but also the real danger of it spreading beyond Gaza City. Children have become particularly vulnerable, making this crisis an ethical barometer for international leaders. Without prompt and decisive intervention by all concerned parties – particularly international aid – children pay the ultimate price.
