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The Crisis at a Glance
• As of May 2025, 2.1 million people in Gaza faced acute food insecurity—representing 93–96% of the population in IPC Phase 3 or above (Crisis or worse), with up to 244,000 in catastrophic (IPC Phase 5) conditions. In some estimates, nearly 470,000 people were facing starvation-level hunger.
• UNICEF and WFP projections warn that around 71,000 children and 17,000 mothers will require urgent treatment for acute malnutrition by mid‑2026 if aid access remains blocked .
• Since March 2, 2025, Gaza has been subjected to a near-total blockade: no humanitarian aid, no commercial supplies, and no food over 70 consecutive days—longest since the war began.
Causes: A Man‑Made Humanitarian Collapse
Blockade and Aid Blockage
Israeli restrictions on crossings have virtually cut off food, medicine, and fuel to Gaza. Though aid resumed in May, deliveries remain severely insufficient—hundreds of trucks a day are needed, but only a fraction arrive.
Destruction of Food Systems
• Over 70–75% of cropland, orchards, and wells have been damaged or destroyed as of early 2025, rendering local food production nearly impossible.
• Livestock losses are catastrophic: cattle down to under 4% of previous levels; sheep and goats similarly decimated—eliminating vital sources of nutrition and income.
Economic Collapse & Soaring Prices
With livelihoods shattered, food prices have skyrocketed—up to 1,400% above pre-war levels. Many households cannot afford to buy anything, resorting to begging, selling scrap, or scavenging garbage to survive.
Human Toll and Malnutrition
• In July 2025, 5,100 children were admitted into malnutrition treatment programs; 800 were in critical condition, highlighting how overwhelmed Gaza’s health system has become.
• At least 111 people are confirmed to have died from starvation-related causes—including dozens of children. In one recent tragic case, a 5‑month‑old baby died after her weight fell below birth weight due to lack of infant formula.
• UN and MSF staff describe scenes of “walking corpses”, with children’s bodies deteriorating visibly due to severe acute malnutrition. Over 1,000 civilians have been killed waiting at dangerous aid distribution points.
Legal and Moral Implications
• WHO Director‑General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has declared the crisis “man‑made mass starvation,” attributing it to deliberate denial of aid amid active hostilities.
• Human rights and legal bodies—including HRW, former ICC officials, and the EU—assert that starvation is being used as a weapon of war, and constitutes collective punishment under international humanitarian law.
What Happens Next? The Stakes Are Life or Death
• Without immediate and unrestricted humanitarian access, the crisis will deepen. Reports warn of irreversible malnutrition, especially among children under five—inflicting long‑term cognitive and physical damage.
• Aid alternatives—such as food airdrops conducted by Israeli‑backed entities and the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF)—have been widely criticized. While they deliver limited calories, they lack nutritional diversity, safety, impartiality, and reach, leaving most of the population unserved.
• International pressure is mounting: European governments have condemned the blockade, demanded a ceasefire, and called for the urgent release of aid—while Israel and its supporters continue to attribute blame to Hamas and deny responsibility.
A Face of This Crisis
In northern Gaza, Muhammad Zakariya Ayyoub al‑Matouq, an 18‑month‑old boy, has lost a third of his body weight and lives in a tent without food or medical care—symbolizing the suffering of thousands of children in Gaza.
Call to Action
Experts and organizations including the UN, WHO, FAO, and NGOs emphasize:
1. Immediate full humanitarian access—unimpeded delivery of food, water, medicine
2. Ceasefire and cessation of hostilities to allow safe distribution
3. Support to rebuild food systems (livestock, agriculture) to prevent total collapse
4. International accountability for potential violations of humanitarian law.
Attached is a News article regarding the starvation in Gaza
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ckgjg81qqwvo.amp
Article written and configured by Christopher Stanley
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