Famine Conditions in Gaza: Over 640,000 at Catastrophic Levels of Food Insecurity

Strategic Insights -

More than 640,000 people in Gaza are projected to face catastrophic levels of food insecurity, classified as IPC Phase 5, by the end of September. This dire situation is underscored by widespread starvation, destitution, and preventable deaths, with over 640,000 people facing Catastrophic levels of food insecurity, 1.14 million in Emergency (IPC Phase 4), and 396,000 in Crisis (IPC Phase 3) conditions. The famine conditions are projected to spread from Gaza Governorate to Deir Al Balah and Khan Younis Governorates in the coming weeks.

Key Takeaways:

  • Over 640,000 people in Gaza are at catastrophic levels of food insecurity, classified as IPC Phase 5, by the end of September.
  • The situation is marked by widespread starvation, destitution, and preventable deaths, with over 640,000 people facing Catastrophic levels of food insecurity, 1.14 million in Emergency (IPC Phase 4), and 396,000 in Crisis (IPC Phase 3) conditions.
  • Famine conditions are projected to spread from Gaza Governorate to Deir Al Balah and Khan Younis Governorates in the coming weeks.
  • Since July, food and aid supplies entering Gaza increased slightly but remained vastly insufficient, inconsistent, and inaccessible compared to the need.
  • Approximately 98% of cropland in the territory is damaged or inaccessible, decimating the agriculture sector and local food production.
  • Cash is critically scarce, aid operations remain severely disrupted, with most UN trucks looted amid growing desperation.
  • Food prices are extremely high, and there are not enough fuel and water to cook and medicines and medical supplies.
  • Gaza's health system has severely deteriorated, access to safe drinking water and sanitation services has been drastically reduced.
  • Multi-drug-resistant infections are surging, and levels of morbidity, including diarrhoea, fever, acute respiratory, and skin infections, are alarmingly high among children.
  • The U.N. agencies emphasized the importance of an immediate and sustained ceasefire to stop the killing, allow for the safe release of hostages, and permit unimpeded access for a mass influx of assistance to reach people across Gaza.

Statistics:

  • Over 640,000 people in Gaza are at catastrophic levels of food insecurity.
  • 1.14 million people will be in Emergency (IPC Phase 4) conditions.
  • 396,000 people will be in Crisis (IPC Phase 3) conditions.
  • Approximately 98% of cropland in the territory is damaged or inaccessible.
  • Over 12,000 children were identified as acutely malnourished in July, a six-fold increase since the start of the year.
  • Nearly one in four of these children were suffering from severe acute malnutrition (SAM).
  • Since July, food and aid supplies entering Gaza increased slightly but remained vastly insufficient, inconsistent, and inaccessible compared to the need.

Sources:

  • World Health Organisation
  • Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
  • UNICEF
  • The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP)
  • Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC)