The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) Initiative has issued a stark warning that the “worst-case scenario of famine” is currently unfolding in the Gaza Strip. United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has reiterated his urgent call for unrestricted access for humanitarian aid, emphasizing the need to drastically increase the flow of essential supplies.
“The trickle of aid must become an ocean” Guterres stated. “Food, water, medicine and fuel must flow in streams and without impediment.
Speaking on the severity of the situation, the Secretary-General affirmed that the facts are “on the table and undeniable”. He described the experience of Palestinians in Gaza as an “epic-scale humanitarian catastrophe” rejecting any suggestion that this is a mere warning, but a “reality unfolding before our eyes”. He characterized the situation as a “nightmare” that needs to end.
To avert this potential famine, Guterres stressed the imperative for all parties to immediately intensify their efforts. He specifically called for an “immediate and sustained humanitarian ceasefire” the “immediate and unconditional release of all hostages” and “unrestricted access for humanitarian aid throughout Gaza”. He framed the situation as “a test of our common humanity – a test we must not fail.
The IPC Initiative’s recent assessment highlights the escalating conflict and displacement within Gaza, leading to a “previously unprecedented” deterioration in access to food and other vital goods and services. Evidence increasingly indicates a rise in hunger-related deaths due to widespread hunger, malnutrition and disease. Current data indicates that the threshold for hunger has been reached in most areas of Gaza, with Gaza City exceeding the threshold for acute malnutrition.
The IPC Initiative insists on the urgent implementation of measures to ensure unimpeded, large-scale humanitarian assistance as the sole means of preventing further deaths and catastrophic human suffering.