After nearly two years of conflict that have been defined by the blockage of humanitarian aid into Gaza, famine has been officially declared in Gaza by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, or IPC, the global body responsible for measuring hunger crises.
“As of 15 August 2025, Famine (IPC Phase 5)—with reasonable evidence—is confirmed in Gaza Governorate,” said the IPC report, released on Friday. “After 22 months of relentless conflict, over half a million people in the Gaza Strip are facing catastrophic conditions characterised by starvation, destitution and death.” Those facing “emergency,” conditions, or IPC Phase 4 is expected to rise to 1.14 million people out of the roughly 2.1 million people in Gaza.
According to the report, at least 132,000 children under 5 years old are expected to suffer from acute malnutrition through June 2026, which is double IPC’s estimates from May. Of this, it described 41,000 cases as severe and “at heightened risk of death.” The report also said that “non-trauma mortality” is “likely underreported due to collapsed monitoring systems.”
About the author
Ayenat Mersie
Ayenat Mersie is a Global Development Reporter for Devex. Previously, she worked as a freelance journalist for publications such as National Geographic and Foreign Policy and as an East Africa correspondent for Reuters.
