UN: 345,000 Palestinians in Gaza face ‘catastrophic’ hunger levels this winter

As many as 345,000 Palestinians in Gaza are expected to face “catastrophic levels” of hunger this winter due to a decline in aid deliveries, raising alarms about the risk of famine throughout the region, a recent assessment by the United Nations has warned.

The  Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) report, compiled by UN agencies and NGOs, highlighted a stark increase from the current 133,000 individuals classified as experiencing “catastrophic food insecurity”.

The report notes that while a rise in humanitarian aid over the summer alleviated some suffering,

September saw the lowest level of commercial and humanitarian supplies entering Gaza since March.

As a result, the number of people facing catastrophic food insecurity (IPC Phase 5) is expected to surge between November 2024 and April 2025, reaching 345,000, or 16 per cent of the population.

According to the report, the recent “sharp decline” in aid will severely limit families’ ability to feed themselves and access essential goods and services in the coming months unless the situation changes.

Arif Husain, chief economist at the World Food Programme (WHO), said: “Commercial supplies have decreased, widespread displacement has occurred, infrastructure has been destroyed, agriculture has collapsed, and people lack financial resources.”

Husain stressed that “all of this is reflected in the forecasts of the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, indicating a deterioration beginning in November.”

Additional estimates predict around 60,000 cases of acute malnutrition among children aged six months to four years during the same period.

The report explained that the increase in Israeli attacks and new evacuation orders “increases the likelihood of this worst-case scenario occurring”.

“To curb acute hunger and malnutrition, we must act now – immediately cease hostilities, restore humanitarian access to deliver critical and essential food aid and agricultural inputs in time for the upcoming winter crop planting season which has already started – to allow them to grow food,” said Beth Bechdol, the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) deputy director-general.

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