Gaza is at critical risk of famine, with 22 percent of the population facing an imminent humanitarian catastrophe after more than two months of an Israeli blockade, the UN food watchdog has warned.
Gaza’s 2.4 million people could be at risk of food insecurity or worse by September, according to the Integrated Phased Classification of Food Security (IPC), a report supported by the UN and NGOs.
The report warns that there has been a “significant deterioration” in the food security situation since the last assessment in October 2024.
“Commodities essential for people’s survival are either running out or are expected to run out in the coming weeks. The entire population faces high levels of acute food insecurity, and half a million people – one in five – face hunger,” the report says.
The consortium, which developed a five-level famine warning system, found that from April 1 to May 10, 244,000 people in Gaza were in the most critical food situation – at level five, which means “catastrophe/famine”.
Another 925,000 people are classified as level four, which means emergency.
The UN Food and Agriculture Organization has called for an immediate end to the blockade.
