UN Experts Declare ‘Man-Made’ Famine in Gaza City.
A famine has been declared in Gaza City and surrounding areas, with UN-backed experts calling it an “entirely man-made” crisis and warning of rapidly rising deaths.
The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), the world’s leading authority on food insecurity, said all famine thresholds had been met in the city, which is home to 500,000–800,000 people. It is only the fifth time since 2004 that the IPC has confirmed a famine, the last being in Sudan in 2024.
“This famine is entirely man-made, it can be halted and reversed. The time for debate and hesitation has passed,” the IPC report said, warning that even short delays could trigger an “unacceptable” surge in mortality.
According to figures from Gaza’s health ministry, verified by the World Health Organization, 89 people—mostly children—died of hunger in the 22 months after the Hamas-led attacks on Israel in October 2023. But in the first 20 days of August 2025 alone, 133 deaths were recorded, including 25 children.
The IPC cautioned that famine could soon spread to Deir al-Balah and Khan Younis, while northern Gaza is believed to face even more severe conditions. Aid groups warned that further Israeli offensives could worsen the catastrophe. “This is the most critical stage in Gaza’s history,” said Amjad Shawa, head of the Gaza NGOs Network. “Without food, we cannot imagine what will happen.”
The report urged urgent and sustained action to prevent an escalation of famine across the territory.
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