End of Famine in Gaza Amid Ongoing Crisis
The UN announced on Friday that the famine in Gaza has ended due to a rise in humanitarian aid deliveries. However, the situation remains critical, with the levels of hunger still alarming.
According to the UN, approximately one in eight residents in Gaza continue to face food shortages. The ongoing hunger crisis has been exacerbated by winter flooding and colder temperatures. Many people are living in tents or inadequate shelters after extensive destruction of homes and infrastructure during the past two years of conflict with Israel.
Since the October ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, Israel has gradually relaxed restrictions on aid, though deliveries remain sporadic and limited, as reported by the UN.
The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) initiative confirmed that no areas are currently classified as in famine. The IPC had initially declared famine conditions in parts of Gaza in August, which led to significant mortality, with reports of at least 450 starvation-related deaths from the Gaza health ministry.
The IPC noted that while famine has been declared over, the overall situation in Gaza remains severe, as the entire region is classified under emergency conditions due to high levels of acute malnutrition and excess mortality from lack of food.
Despite improvements since the ceasefire, aid workers stress that the arrangement is fragile, as Israel continues to carry out airstrikes, and both sides have exchanged accusations of violating the ceasefire. The IPC estimates that around 1.6 million people may face “crisis” levels of hunger within the next four months, cautioning that a breakdown of the ceasefire could reignite famine conditions.
Israel firmly denies claims of famine in Gaza and insists it is not restricting aid. However, humanitarian organizations like Oxfam highlight that substantial aid remains blocked. Conditions in Gaza continue to deteriorate, and reports of children suffering from extreme cold have emerged, leading to tragic fatalities.
