UN Declares Gaza Famine Over, Warns Food Emergency Persists
UN declares famine over, yet warns of imminent return amid dire conditions.
The United Nations announced on Friday that the famine declared in Gaza in August 2025 has officially ended, attributing the improvement to increased humanitarian aid access following a fragile ceasefire. The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification Initiative (IPC) confirmed that no areas in the territory are now classified as experiencing famine, marking a significant shift from the crisis identified earlier in the year.
Despite this development, the IPC emphasized that the overall food security situation remains critical, with the entire Gaza Strip classified in the "Emergency" phase. Approximately 1.6 million people are projected to face crisis-level food insecurity through April 2026, while winter floods, plummeting temperatures, and widespread displacement into makeshift shelters continue to exacerbate hunger and health risks.
The ceasefire, which took effect in October and halted two years of conflict sparked by the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel, has allowed partial easing of restrictions on aid and commercial goods. However, deliveries remain inconsistent and unevenly distributed, leaving the population vulnerable. Under a worst-case scenario involving renewed hostilities or aid interruptions, several governorates risk sliding back into famine.
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UN agencies highlighted that malnutrition, disease outbreaks, and extensive agricultural destruction persist at alarmingly high levels. Severe limitations on water, sanitation, and hygiene, coupled with damaged cropland and decimated livestock, compound the challenges. Humanitarian organizations stressed that only scaled-up access, supplies, and funding can prevent a recurrence of famine.
Reactions to the announcement varied, with Israeli officials welcoming the famine rollback but criticizing the IPC's reliance on partial data, while aid groups like Oxfam accused authorities of blocking essential supplies. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for expanded access and warned of deteriorating conditions in the West Bank amid escalating tensions.
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