FAO, WFP, UNICEF warn of catastrophic famine in Gaza

Al Etihad

12-05-2025

13 May 2025 00:38
NEW YORK/GENEVA (WAM)The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the World Food Programme (WFP), and UNICEF have urgently called for the immediate opening of crossings and the unrestricted entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza, warning of an imminent famine, the complete collapse of the agricultural sector, and rising rates of malnutrition and deaths due to the ongoing blockade and deprivation of food, water, and healthcare for residents.A new report by the "Integrated Food Security Phase Classification" (IPC scale)l, which was released today, revealed that the entire population of Gaza, around 2.1 million people, is experiencing severe food insecurity.The report classified 93 percent of the population (1.95 million people) between phases three and five, with 244,000 people (12 percent) in phase five (catastrophic famine), 925,000 (44 percent) in phase four (emergency), and the remainder in phase three (crisis).The report further highlighted that nearly 470,000 people are currently facing actual famine, while 71,000 children and over 17,000 mothers require immediate treatment for acute malnutrition. Since the beginning of 2025, an estimated 60,000 children have needed direct treatment.The United Nations warned that the situation is expected to worsen between 11th May and the end of September 2025, with the entire population remaining in a state of food crisis or worse.In the agricultural sector, FAO reported that 42 percent of Gaza's land (over 15,000 hectares) was cultivated before October 2023. However, 75 percent of fields and olive orchards have been damaged or destroyed during military operations, and two-thirds of agricultural wells (1,531 wells) became unusable at the beginning of 2025.Despite the FAO's distribution of over 2,100 tonnes of animal feed and veterinary supplies to more than 4,800 herders, these supplies are insufficient, with FAO warning that an additional 20-30 percent of livestock is at risk of death if essential supplies continue to be blocked.Cindy McCain, Executive Director of the World Food Programme, warned, 'Entire families are starving while aid stands at the borders without permission to enter. Famine does not occur suddenly; it emerges when people are denied access to food and care.'UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell emphasised that hunger and malnutrition have become a daily reality for children in Gaza, calling for immediate action to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe.The report also noted that more than 116,000 tonnes of food aid are ready at the crossings, sufficient to feed approximately one million people for four months, but have not been allowed entry due to the blockade. Food stocks have been entirely depleted, and all 25 subsidised bakeries have shut down due to the exhaustion of wheat flour and cooking fuel since the end of April.
The UN agencies urged all parties to respect international humanitarian law and allow the immediate entry of supplies, warning that the continuation of the blockade will result in death rates exceeding famine levels in the coming months.