Gaza faces acute hunger as UN warns food‑security gains remain fragile

UN agencies (FAO, UNICEF and WFP) report that 67 % of Gaza’s 2.1 million residents – about 1.4 million people – are now in crisis‑level or worse food insecurity, with roughly 212 000 in emergency (IPC Phase 4). The situation has improved since the October 2025 cease‑fire: food parcels reached 1.5 million people in May, cash assistance covered 700 000 and nutrition programs reached 60 % of children under five. However, only the Kerem Shalom crossing remains open, limiting the flow of essential goods and leaving most of the population dependent on aid.

The UN warns that any disruption to humanitarian access could quickly reverse these gains. Persistent shortages of water, sanitation, medicine and diverse food have led to rising child stunting and severe malnutrition risks. Israel’s continued border restrictions and funding shortfalls for aid heighten the risk of a wider hunger crisis by year‑end.