The humanitarian crisis in Gaza has reached a devastating new level, with famine now officially confirmed in Gaza City and surrounding areas. International leaders have condemned the situation as a man-made disaster, describing it as a moral failure of the global community.
More than half a million people are now enduring catastrophic conditions marked by starvation and destitution. Families are running out of food, children are wasting away, and aid agencies warn that the worst is yet to come unless urgent and large-scale assistance is allowed in.
Reports predict that by the end of September, famine will spread further south, leaving almost a third of Gaza’s population in conditions of extreme hunger. Malnutrition is expected to threaten the lives of more than 130,000 children under the age of five well into next year.
Mothers in Gaza share heartbreaking stories of survival. One woman said her youngest child has never tasted fruit or vegetables, while another described how her daughter’s weight has been cut in half since the war began. Children are suffering swollen limbs, thinning hair, and nerve damage due to prolonged hunger.
Since the conflict erupted last year, hundreds of people — including many children — have already died from malnutrition. Gaza’s health system, homes, and basic infrastructure have collapsed under the weight of war, leaving families displaced, without clean water, and without hope of medical treatment.
Humanitarian officials stress that this famine is not the result of natural disaster, but of deliberate choices and restrictions. They argue that sufficient food exists and could reach people, but aid is being blocked. The international community has condemned the ongoing barriers to relief, warning that every day of delay costs lives.
Despite claims that aid has been sent through airdrops and limited convoys, relief workers say the supplies are nowhere near enough to meet the overwhelming need. Families scramble for what little food arrives, but the scale of hunger continues to grow.
As military operations intensify in Gaza, the human cost mounts. Over 62,000 people have already been killed since the war began, with almost the entire population displaced multiple times. With more than 90% of homes damaged or destroyed, and famine now tightening its grip, Gaza has been described as a “living hell” for its people.