Children in Gaza are succumbing to hunger, sparking global concern over inactivity from international parties
In the Gaza Strip, a severe humanitarian disaster is unfolding, with clear signs of food scarcity and malnutrition affecting the population, particularly children. Despite these conditions, the United Nations (UN) has not yet officially declared Gaza a famine-stricken area.
The ongoing Israeli blockade, imposed since March 2025, has caused food prices to skyrocket and led to a collapse in food availability. The blockade has also restricted all humanitarian aid and commercial supplies, complicating neutral assessments and interventions. As a result, aid distribution is conducted through military-controlled channels, making it difficult for aid organizations to operate independently and verify the situation on the ground.
Multiple reports and UN bodies, including the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and UN sources, note that famine conditions are setting in. Over 65,000 children suffer from acute malnutrition, and verified starvation deaths have been documented. However, officially declaring famine is a sensitive matter, influenced by the political context, ongoing Israeli restrictions, and the stringent criteria under frameworks like the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC).
The UN's reluctance to declare famine may also be due to the political implications such a declaration could have, potentially escalating international pressures and complicating negotiations involving Israel, Gaza's governing bodies, and donor states. Additionally, the US's veto power in the UN Security Council and political pressures may also play a role.
Human rights activists argue that the UN's wait is unnecessary, as Gaza is already experiencing "catastrophic hunger," which is the worst level on the UN's food security scale. The situation is further compounded by issues such as the collapse of the healthcare system, damage to housing and roads, lack of clean water, high unemployment, and rising food prices.
Experts warn that people who are hungry and desperate could fight with each other in communities as they struggle for limited resources. The mental toll on people in Gaza is increasing due to a lot of people having to move, infrastructure being destroyed, and social ties breaking down.
The "Gaza Humanitarian Foundation," connected to the United States, took over aid distribution in May, resulting in chaos and violence, with approximately 1,000 Palestinians killed and thousands injured.
Despite repeated warnings and the fact that everyone in Gaza is at risk of going hungry, the UN has not made a public statement regarding the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Experts suggest that the UN's delay in declaring famine could be due to Israel's restrictions on UN agencies working in the area or disagreements over whether the official standards for famine have been met.
European countries have made some responses, but UNRWA stresses that promises made at the political level need to be carried out on the ground. Over 70 children under five have died in the last few weeks in Gaza, and at least 620 children have died from hunger, with 70 deaths occurring in June. Pregnant women in Gaza are more likely to have a loss, give birth early, or have a baby with a defect.
The UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) accuses Israel of purposely starving the people of Gaza, including one million children. The situation is further exacerbated by medicine shortages and poor nutrition, making things worse for the elderly and chronically sick in Gaza.
Experts argue that the rest of the world, especially Arab and Islamic countries, hasn't done enough to get Israel to let aid into Gaza. Despite the challenges, aid organizations and the international community continue to work towards alleviating the suffering in Gaza, providing much-needed assistance to those in need.
- The ongoing situation in Gaza, marked by food scarcity, malnutrition, and rising food prices due to the Israeli blockade, is causing a significant health-and-wellness crisis, particularly affecting children.
- Reports from multiple sources, including the UN and the International Court of Justice, suggest that famine conditions are developing in Gaza, with over 65,000 children suffering from acute malnutrition and verified starvation deaths documented.
- The politically charged environment, including the Israeli restrictions and the US's veto power in the UN Security Council, may influence the UN's decision not to officially declare famine in Gaza.
- The UN's hesitation to announce a famine in Gaza has been criticized by human rights activists, who argue that the region is experiencing "catastrophic hunger," the worst level on the UN's food security scale.
- The humanitarian disaster in Gaza is not just a health issue; it is also leading to problems in mental health, as people grapple with moving, infrastructure destruction, and social ties breaking down.
- Recent political decisions, such as the takeover of aid distribution by the "Gaza Humanitarian Foundation," have resulted in chaos and violence, causing the death of approximately 1,000 Palestinians and thousands of injuries.
- Despite the dire state of affairs in Gaza, the UN, European countries, and other aid organizations continue to strive to alleviate the suffering, providing essential assistance to the population facing a multi-faceted humanitarian crisis, encompassing issues like food scarcity, healthcare, clean water, and infrastructure damage.
