Gaza is currently facing a critical famine risk, with 22% of the population approaching a humanitarian catastrophe, according to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), as reported by Al-Monitor via AFP on May 12th.
The IPC stated that from April 1st to May 10th, approximately 244,000 individuals were experiencing level five food insecurity, categorised as a “catastrophe/famine.” An additional 925,000 were in level four, or “emergency.”
The report highlighted that essential goods needed for survival are either depleted or expected to run out soon. It noted a significant deterioration in food security since the last assessment in October 2024. The entire population of Gaza, estimated at 2.4 million, is at risk of facing a food crisis or worse by September if the current conditions persist.
The UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization warned that Gaza’s agriculture sector is on the brink of collapse. It called for the immediate lifting of the aid blockade and stressed the urgency of delivering supplies such as animal feed and veterinary medicine to maintain production of basic food items like milk and eggs.
On April 24th, Middle East Eye via Wafa reported—as cited by Levantis, that Dr. Khalil al-Daqran, medical director of Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, described Gaza’s malnutrition crisis as the worst to date.
In an interview with Voice of Palestine, he warned that Gaza had entered the fifth and most dangerous stage of malnutrition. He highlighted that 60,000 children were facing critical health risks, and nearly 200,000 chronically ill patients were without vital medications.
Additionally, Hamas spokesperson Abdel-Latif al-Qanou stated that Gaza had been under siege and urged international actors to facilitate humanitarian access, the Middle East Eye reported on March 13th.
Al-Monitor, AFP, Middle East Eye, Wafa
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