Enviro News Asia, New York — United Nations agencies have welcomed new findings indicating that famine has been pushed back across the Gaza Strip, while warning that the situation remains highly fragile and could quickly deteriorate without sustained humanitarian and commercial support.
The latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) analysis confirms that no area in Gaza is currently classified as being in famine following the October ceasefire and improved humanitarian and commercial access. However, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, UNICEF, World Food Programme, and the World Health Organization cautioned that these gains remain extremely vulnerable.
According to the IPC report, at least 1.6 million people—representing 77 percent of Gaza’s population—continue to face acute food insecurity. This includes more than 100,000 children and 37,000 pregnant and breastfeeding women who are projected to suffer acute malnutrition through April next year. Four governorates—North Gaza, Gaza Governorate, Deir al-Balah, and Khan Younis—remain classified under Emergency (IPC Phase 4), reflecting severe food consumption gaps, high malnutrition levels, and elevated mortality risk.
The agencies reported that although the ceasefire has enabled improved food deliveries and limited commercial imports, most households remain unable to meet basic needs. Since the ceasefire, more than 730,000 people have been displaced and now depend heavily on humanitarian assistance while living in overcrowded and makeshift shelters.
Widespread destruction of agricultural land, livestock assets, fishing activities, and critical infrastructure, combined with limited access to water, sanitation, healthcare, and hygiene services, continues to undermine recovery efforts. While markets are better supplied, 79 percent of households cannot afford adequate food or clean water, and nutrition-rich foods remain scarce and costly.
Children under five and pregnant and breastfeeding women remain the most vulnerable, with no children achieving minimum dietary diversity and two-thirds experiencing severe food poverty. Health risks are compounded by damaged sewage systems, unreliable water supplies, and unsafe coping mechanisms, such as burning wood or waste for warmth, which contribute to rising respiratory, diarrheal, and skin diseases.
The UN agencies stressed that without expanded and sustained food, health, nutrition, agriculture, and livelihood assistance—alongside increased commercial inflows—hundreds of thousands of people could rapidly fall back into famine conditions.
FAO, UNICEF, WFP, and WHO stated they are ready to scale up operations but face major constraints due to access restrictions, import limitations, and significant funding gaps. The agencies called for sustained humanitarian access, expedited entry of essential supplies, and long-term investment to support recovery and reduce dependency on aid. (*)
