Navigating the hunger crisis in Gaza: Israel’s aid restrictions threaten famine

Nowadays, the Gaza Strip is facing many tough challenges due to severe hunger and a high risk of famine. Israel is increasing its tough military actions against innocent people of Gaza. This ongoing effort by Israel makes it hard for humanitarian aid to reach the people in time, particularly those who need it most. 

Many people in Gaza, approximately 1.84 million, are experiencing serious food shortages here. Additionally, nearly 133,000 people are facing the condition of “catastrophic” hunger. It simply means they don’t get enough food to survive. However, in June the figure was approximately 343,000 and now it is decreasing, but experts say that soon this number will rise again. The main culprit for these crises is ‌ restricted access to aid. 

Many families are making efforts to find food, and urgent actions are needed to tackle the situation. Otherwise, the number of sufferings will increase in the future. It is important to provide support to the people in Gaza and make sure they get enough food to survive. 

According to the United Nations Human Rights Chief, the current situation in Gaza is very concerning. He said that most of the crisis is due to the choices made by Israeli authorities. They have the power to change things and make the situation better. Turk also points out that using starvation as a tool of war is one of the serious crimes. 

According to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) report, since May, there has been a slight increase in food supplies to Gaza. But at the same time, humanitarian aid has become harder to access again since September. The IPC also issued ‌warning letters and said that one of the serious threats in the Gaza Strip is famine. With the recent rise in violence, there are growing worries that this worst-case scenario could happen.

The UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres expressed his deep concern about the IPC’s report, stressing the urgent need for action to prevent more suffering for the people in Gaza. Immediate efforts are necessary to ensure the safety and well-being of civilians.

International aid organizations must take immediate action to save Gaza’s people from a famine crisis. Routes that are used to deliver aid must be opened soon, and any obstacle should be removed instantly. It is crucial to restore order so ‌agencies of the United Nations can deliver life-saving accessories. 

The United States is closely watching Israel’s actions to ensure that it does not starve people in northern Gaza. According to recent ‌data, approximately 60,000 children will suffer from severe hunger crises from September 2024 to August 2025. Due to ongoing fights, the situation has gotten worse. 

Most of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents have been forced to move many times over the past year because of fighting between Israel and Hamas. The damage from Israeli airstrikes has left many places in ruins. The international community must provide urgent support to help the people of Gaza.

The UN has voiced worries about the difficulties in providing supplies to Gaza, pointing the finger at Israel and the unrest there. Between October 2 and 15, no food aid arrived in northern Gaza. According to a Reuters report, Israel halted processing of food import requests from traders, cutting off a significant food supply, despite Israel’s assurances that it doesn’t restrict aid.

Including governments, humanitarian organizations, and U.N. agencies, the IPC is a global organization that assesses food emergencies. Phase 5 of its five-phase system, which encompasses starvation and disaster, is the worst. Famine occurs when two out of every 10,000 people perish every day from hunger, malnutrition, or illness; 20% of people have severe food shortages, and 30% of children suffer from severe malnutrition.