Entire Gaza at critical risk of famine, 500,000 facing starvation: Monitor
A global hunger monitor says Gaza’s entire population continues to face a critical risk of famine, while half a million people face starvation.
The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification described the findings as a serious deterioration since its last assessment in October.
The latest report analysed a period from April 1 to May 10 this year and gave projections of the situation until the end of September, according to a summary of its key findings.
Dozens of Palestinians have starved to death under Israel’s blockade of Gaza
The release of the latest report by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification warning of famine in Gaza comes a little over a week after authorities in the besieged and bombarded territory said at least 57 people had starved to death as Israel’s punishing blockade of food, water and other critical aid continues.
In a statement on May 3, Gaza’s Government Media Office had said most of the victims were children. The sick and elderly were among those to have also died, it added.
It condemned the “continued use of food by the Israeli occupation as a weapon of war” and urged the international community to exert pressure on Israel to lift its total blockade, which has been in place since March 2.
Al Jazeera identified one of the victims, a baby girl called Janan Saleh al-Sakafi, who died of malnutrition and dehydration in the Rantisi Hospital, west of Gaza City. More than 9,000 children have been admitted to hospital for treatment for acute malnutrition since the start of the year, according to the United Nations.
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Key findings of IPC report
As we’ve been reporting, Gaza’s entire population is at imminent risk of famine, according to an IPC report. Here’s what it has found:
- About 1.95 million people, or 93 percent of Gaza’s population, are living with acute food shortages.
- Among them are 244,000 people, or 12 percent of the population, who are experiencing the most severe, or “catastrophic”, food shortages.
- IPC’s October analysis had said 133,000 people were in the “catastrophic” category, which refer to famine conditions.
- About 470,000 people, or 22 percent of the population, are projected to fall into the catastrophic category by the end of September with more than a million more at “emergency” levels, the fourth level on the IPC’s five-level scale.
- “From 11 May to the end of September 2025, the whole territory is classified in Emergency (IPC Phase 4), with the entire population expected to face Crisis or worse acute food insecurity (IPC Phase 3 or above),” the report said.
