There is an urgent risk of famine in northern Gaza, with experts warning that starvation, malnutrition, and disease may already be reaching critical levels. The Famine Review Committee (FRC), a global food security organization, issued a rare alert calling for immediate action to prevent further escalation of this humanitarian crisis. The FRC emphasized that intervention is needed within days, urging all involved in the conflict or with influence over it to take steps to avert disaster in the area.
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) estimates between 75,000 and 95,000 people remain in northern Gaza. The FRC highlighted that the prevalence of extreme food shortages and malnutrition in northern Gaza suggests famine thresholds may have already been met or are about to be reached. This could mean severe consequences, especially in densely populated areas where shortages can quickly lead to widespread mortality due to malnutrition and disease.
Recent reports note a significant reduction in the flow of essential aid into Gaza, worsening the food crisis. Aid trucks entering Gaza have reached their lowest numbers of the year. The United Nations and humanitarian organizations have reported a drastic decrease in aid shipments, partly due to ongoing restrictions in the area. According to the World Food Programme (WFP), current aid deliveries fall short of minimum requirements to meet the population’s basic needs, exacerbating the situation.
Humanitarian experts call for a minimum of 350 aid trucks per day to alleviate the growing crisis. However, data indicates that in October, only an average of 57 trucks entered Gaza daily, and as of November, the number had decreased to 37 trucks daily. Before the escalation of the conflict, Gaza had received around 500 aid trucks daily, highlighting the extent of the current shortfall.
The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), which monitors and classifies food security crises globally, set the standard for determining famine conditions. According to IPC definitions, a famine is declared when at least 20% of households face extreme food shortages, 30% of children are acutely malnourished, and mortality rates reach two deaths per 10,000 people each day from starvation or malnutrition related illness. The IPC warned in October that all of Gaza was at risk of famine, and recent UN statements have described northern Gaza’s conditions as “apocalyptic,” with severe risks to residents’ lives due to lack of access to essentials like food, water, and healthcare.
In response to the crisis, Cindy McCain, executive director of the WFP, stated that “famine is likely happening or imminent in north Gaza” and called for immediate actions to allow safe, unhindered access to humanitarian aid. The ongoing restrictions on supplies have led to widespread food shortages across the region, further exacerbating an already critical situation for civilians.
Despite efforts to facilitate aid, reports have cited challenges such as alleged interference with assistance efforts, which have been met with concerns from various international organizations. The reduced access to food and water, combined with continued violence, has heightened the urgency for comprehensive aid interventions. Without an immediate increase in aid supplies, the risk of famine could continue to escalate, with significant implications for the affected populations in Gaza.
Jean Martin Bauer, WFP’s director of food security and nutrition analysis, emphasized the need to restore aid flows to at least pre-conflict levels to provide any meaningful relief.
