UN warns 345,000 Gazans face “catastrophic” hunger this winter due to declining aid deliveries and food insecurity.
Around 345,000 Gazans are expected to face “catastrophic” levels of hunger this winter due to a sharp decline in aid deliveries, UN agencies warned on Thursday, raising concerns about the ongoing risk of famine in the Palestinian territory.
This marks a significant increase from the 133,000 people currently classified as experiencing “catastrophic food insecurity,” according to a report compiled by UN agencies and NGOs.
While a surge in humanitarian aid earlier this year provided some relief, the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) report noted that September recorded the lowest volume of commercial and humanitarian supplies entering Gaza since March.
As a result, the number of people facing catastrophic food insecurity — classified as IPC Phase 5 — is projected to rise to 345,000, or 16 percent of the population, between November 2024 and April 2025.
The report warned that the recent “sharp decline” in aid will severely limit families’ ability to access food, essential goods, and services in the coming months unless this trend is reversed.