Experts Warn of Imminent Famine in Gaza Amid Humanitarian Crisis

Amid escalating humanitarian concerns in the Gaza Strip, experts and humanitarian organizations have raised alarms over critical levels of hunger, warning that famine may be imminent in certain areas. This dire situation has been exacerbated by ongoing conflict, severe restrictions on food and aid access, and a deteriorating health crisis among displaced populations. As of July 30, 2025, over 147 individuals, including at least 88 children, have reportedly died from hunger-related causes since October 7, 2023, according to the Gaza Ministry of Health (Gaza Health Ministry, 2025).

Despite the alarming conditions, no official famine declaration has been made, leading to debates among officials and experts regarding the implications of such a determination. Alex de Waal, Executive Director of the World Peace Foundation at Tufts University, emphasized that declaring a famine often comes too late, noting, "The nature of the process is that if the data aren’t there, you say it’s not a famine" (De Waal, 2025). He criticized the high threshold for famine declaration, which is heavily data-driven, arguing that it may not reflect the urgent need for intervention.

The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), a system used to assess food security, has classified Gaza as facing an emergency level of food insecurity, with half a million residents predicted to reach catastrophic levels by September 2025 (IPC, 2025). The IPC alerts indicate that 20% of households in Gaza are facing extreme food shortages, while 30% of children are acutely malnourished, with two adults or four children dying daily per 10,000 people (IPC, 2025).

Scott Paul, Director of Peace and Security at Oxfam America, underscored the necessity of increasing food aid to Gaza, stating that current restrictions hinder vital access to food and sanitation. He pointed out that unsafe water and unsanitary conditions contribute to disease outbreaks, which are particularly dangerous in famine situations (Paul, 2025). Reflecting on the historical context, Paul noted that during the 2012 famine in Somalia, a significant number of deaths occurred prior to the official declaration of famine, highlighting the critical need for preemptive action.

The criteria for declaring a famine involve a rigorous assessment process, which necessitates a consensus among experts. Once the IPC determines that conditions meet the criteria for famine, an official declaration can be made by the United Nations or the host government. However, the ongoing conflict and disruptions make accurate assessments challenging. Paul remarked, "Our colleagues in Gaza are trying to work under bombardment with no guarantee of safety," which complicates data collection efforts (Paul, 2025).

In the face of these challenges, humanitarian organizations stress the importance of immediate action. Emily Byers, Managing Director of Global Development Policy and Advocacy at Save the Children, reiterated that waiting for an official famine declaration can lead to irreversible damage. "Once you get to that determination, there is already so much damage done that it just becomes so much harder to deal with," she stated (Byers, 2025).

The situation in Gaza requires urgent attention and action from the international community to alleviate the suffering of its residents. Humanitarian groups continue to call for increased access to food and essential services to prevent further loss of life and to address the root causes of this humanitarian crisis.