Today's top news: Occupied Palestinian Territory
UNOCHA - United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
Occupied Palestinian Territory
Famine confirmed in Gaza
The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) today confirmed that famine is currently occurring in Gaza governorate and projected to expand to the governorates of Deir al Balah and Khan Younis by the end of September.
This has generated multiple calls to action by the UN and its humanitarian partners.
Speaking in Geneva, the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Tom Fletcher, said that "the Gaza Famine is the world's famine." He stressed that this could have been prevented if humanitarians had been allowed to do their work - but instead, food stacks up at the borders because of systematic obstruction by Israel. Fletcher called on the international community to act and implored the Israeli authorities and those with influence to get a ceasefire and open the crossings - north and south, all of them - so that humanitarians can get food and other supplies in, unimpeded and at the massive scale required.
The Food and Agriculture Organization, UNICEF, the World Food Programme, and the World Health Organization in a joint press release stressed that famine must be stopped at all costs.
To enable life-saving humanitarian operations, the UN agencies underscored the importance of an immediate and sustained ceasefire to stop the killing, allow for the safe release of hostages, and permit unimpeded access for a mass influx of assistance to reach people across Gaza. They emphasized the urgent need for greater amounts of food and nutrition aid - along with shelter, fuel, cooking gas, and food production inputs. They also called for dramatically improved delivery, distribution and accessibility. The UN agencies said that the restoration of commercial flows at scale, market systems, essential services, and local food production is also vital if the worst outcomes of the famine are to be avoided.
The Humanitarian Coordinator for the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Dr. Ramiz Alakbarov, stressed that despite repeated warnings and tireless efforts to avert the famine, the political will to ensure unimpeded humanitarian operations by the UN and NGOs has tragically fallen short. He reiterated the call for an immediate and permanent ceasefire, as well as the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages and those arbitrarily detained - stressing that they must be treated humanely.
OCHA underscores that civilians are bearing the brunt of this brutal war. As strikes continue to intensify across the Strip, casualties are flooding hospitals' emergency departments.
The UN and its partners continue to warn of the catastrophic consequences that the intensification of the ongoing offensive in Gaza city would have for civilians. Overnight and into today, multiple strikes were reported in the Jabalya Al Balad and An Nazla neighbourhoods. Partners monitoring population movements in the Strip say that as a result, about 900 people reportedly left, heading towards the Sheikh Radwan neighbourhood and western Gaza city.
Once again, the UN and its partners remind parties to the conflict of their obligations under international law to protect civilians, including humanitarian workers and those who cannot or choose not to move. Those fleeing must be allowed to do so safely. They must also be allowed to return if they wish to do so, as the situation allows. OCHA reiterates the urgency of ensuring people have access to aid and basic services, whether they leave or stay.
Supplies must be allowed to enter Gaza through all available crossings and corridors. The UN and its humanitarian partners must have safe, predictable and sustained access to deliver aid at scale to people in immense need of assistance*.
Partners working in health note that nearly half of all hospitals and field hospitals are located in Gaza city and account for 40 per cent of the total inpatient bed capacity in all of the Gaza Strip. Expansion of military operations would further cripple the collapsing healthcare system.
Many medical facilities in the south are operating several times over their bedspace capacity. Partners stress that access to healthcare must be immediately restored to avert more preventable deaths.
*Donations made to UN Crisis Relief help UN agencies and humanitarian NGOs reach people in the Occupied Palestinian Territory with urgent support.
Posted on 22 August 2025
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