Gaza faces imminent famine and humanitarian catastrophe

Palestinian Minister of Social Development Samah Hamad has warned of an escalating humanitarian and social catastrophe in the Gaza Strip. More than 1.6 million displaced persons have been living in tents for three consecutive years, lacking access to clean water, food, and basic infrastructure.

According to reports from 15 international institutions, including the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), approximately 500,000 people are currently facing famine. This figure is projected to rise to 1.8 million by the end of the year if aid restrictions continue. Health concerns are mounting, with an estimated 500,000 children at risk of malnutrition-related illnesses such as stunting and anemia.

Mohammed Salha, director of the Palestinian Civil Society Organizations Network, noted that the available living space for residents has shrunk to less than 30% of the Gaza Strip due to forced evacuations. He highlighted a severe water crisis, where 9 out of 10 citizens struggle to access filtered water due to the prohibitive cost of fuel and spare parts for water wells.

Aid delivery remains critically low. Current daily truck entries range between 200 and 220, significantly below the estimated requirement of 700 to 800 trucks per day. Furthermore, social issues such as family disintegration and a rise in divorce rates have been reported due to the lack of privacy in displacement camps. The number of orphaned or unaccompanied children has reached approximately 55,000.