UN-backed: Gaza food aid improving, 100,000 in catastrophic hunger

New analysis from UN-backed experts shows some progress in Gaza's food security since the ceasefire, but the hunger crisis remains dire for hundreds of thousands. About 100,000 residents were in the most extreme category of food insecurity last month, while around 500,000 people lived in emergency conditions, according to the IPC.

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Since October's ceasefire, humanitarian groups have been able to move more aid into Gaza, though access remains tightly controlled and vulnerable to renewed fighting.

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What the IPC found

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The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) tracks hunger levels worldwide. The latest update indicates that a month earlier, half a million Gazans were in emergency conditions and more than 100,000 faced the highest level, labeled IPC Phase 5 or "catastrophic conditions." The report notes some improvement but warns the situation remains highly fragile and could reverse if hostilities resume.

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Is famine over in Gaza?

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The IPC states that no areas were classified as in famine at the time of the assessment. Israel rejected the IPC's famine label and has criticized its methods. COGAT, the Israeli defense body that oversees border crossings, argued weekly food aid deliveries exceeded what the UN says is needed. The IPC says it used publicly available data from UN agencies and COGAT for its analysis.

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Current drivers and outlook

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• Restricted access for humanitarian convoys
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• Displacement of more than 730,000 people
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• Destruction or inaccessibility of livelihoods, affecting over 96% of arable land
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Looking ahead, the IPC cautions that conditions will likely stay severe, with the number of people in the most critical bracket projected to fall to about 1,900 by April. Yet a new round of fighting could push Gaza back toward famine.

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Context and reactions

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Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said the second phase of the US-brokered peace plan—reducing Israeli troop presence in Gaza and disarming Hamas—was nearing completion, though key issues remain unresolved. The blockade on aid deliveries, which began in March and was eased in May, remains a point of contention as humanitarian groups press for sustained access.

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The IPC says it used data from UN sources and from COGAT. The Israeli side argues against the report's conclusions, saying it relies on gaps in data and does not reflect the real aid delivery. UNRWA, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, emphasised that while famine is not current, living conditions are still critical, particularly with winter approaching.

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Expert view

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Experts emphasize that even with some improvements, Gaza's hunger crisis is far from resolved. Any major flare-up in fighting could erase gains and push families back toward famine.

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Bottom line

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The report highlights progress in delivering food and nutrition, but the scale of displacement, damaged farming, and access restrictions keep the humanitarian situation fragile and unpredictable.

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Summary

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Recent IPC analysis shows some gains in food delivery and nutrition in Gaza since the ceasefire. However, the number of people facing extreme hunger remains large, and conditions are fragile. Displacement, land destruction, and restricted access continue to push families toward hardship. Sustained, broad humanitarian and commercial access is essential to prevent a relapse into famine.

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Key insight: Even with increased food aid, hundreds of thousands in Gaza remain in extreme hunger, and only sustained, broad access can prevent a relapse into famine. Source: BBC News

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