UN Chief Condemns Gaza City Famine as "Failure of Humanity"

Famine conditions in Gaza City have reached catastrophic levels, as reported by the UN, prompting António Guterres to label the situation a "failure of humanity." With over 500,000 people facing starvation, humanitarian organizations urge for increased aid access. Despite Israel's denials of starvation, the UN and various countries stress the urgent requirement for food and medical supplies.

The United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres, has characterized the famine declared in Gaza City and its neighboring areas as a "failure of humanity." He stated that the dire situation, resulting from ongoing conflict, is a "man-made disaster." This statement follows an alarming classification by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), which upgraded parts of Gaza's food insecurity status to Phase 5—the most severe level, indicating catastrophic conditions marked by starvation and death.

According to the IPC, over 500,000 individuals in Gaza are currently facing extreme hardships, with many experiencing conditions of "starvation and destitution." These assessments have been strongly contested by Israel, with officials labeling the report as an "outright lie," while denying allegations concerning starvation in the region. This denial stands in stark contrast with reports from over 100 humanitarian organizations, eyewitness accounts, and comments from international allies, including the UK.

The IPC has underscored the urgent need for a large-scale response to avert what it warns could be an "unacceptable escalation" of famine-related fatalities. It predicts that the impending weeks will see a significant rise in those affected, forecasting that by late September, nearly 641,000 residents could find themselves in Phase 5. An astonishing 1.14 million people are expected to face "emergency" conditions classified as Phase 4.

Already, reports from the Hamas-run health ministry indicate that 271 people have perished due to malnutrition, including 112 children. Reem Tawfiq Khader, a resident of Gaza City, remarked on the tragedy, stating that her youngest child, only four years old, has never tasted fruit or vegetables, encapsulating the despair felt by many families.

In response to the IPC findings, UN aid chief Tom Fletcher articulated that the famine was inevitable and preventable, attributing the lack of food access to Israel's systematic obstruction of aid. Guterres reaffirmed the severity of the humanitarian crisis, stressing that "famine" in Gaza is not simply a consequence of circumstance but represents a moral and humanitarian failure.

Philippe Lazzarini, leader of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), also emphasized that this situation can be characterized as "starvation by design" facilitated by the Israeli government. This sentiment was echoed by UN Human Rights Chief Volker Turk, who attributed the famine to Israeli actions that have unlawfully limited aid access.

UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy denounced the situation as a "moral outrage," charging that Israel's refusals to permit sufficient aid has contributed to this avoidable catastrophe. In defense, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that Israel's policy does not promote starvation, asserting that ample aid—totaling over 2 million tons—has been allowed into the Gaza Strip.

Increasing international scrutiny on Israel's handling of the humanitarian crisis has led to concerted calls for adequate measures. Humanitarian airdrops, recently conducted by Israel, faced criticism from aid groups, claiming they were ineffective and thus insufficient. The UN noted that the flow of aid entering Gaza remains alarmingly below the necessary levels, with reports indicating only about 300 aid trucks are currently allowed, while 600 are deemed essential.

Compounding the situation is the reality that Israel is preparing for further military operations in Gaza, which continues to escalate the toll of the conflict. Reports show that since the military actions began following the October 7 attack by Hamas, at least 62,122 people have lost their lives in the territory. This ongoing catastrophe has resulted in the widespread displacement of Gaza's population, as 90% of homes are reported damaged or demolished, along with the collapse of critical healthcare, sanitation, and hygiene systems.