After UN confirmed famine in Gaza; UNICEF warns of children at risk
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The UN has officially declared famine in Gaza, warning that over half a million Palestinians face catastrophic hunger.
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Palestinians struggle to get donated food at a community kitchen in Gaza City, northern Gaza Strip, Palestine, as the Israeli occupation continues to severley limit the amount of aid entering the strip, on August 4, 2025. (AP)
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has warned that nearly 13,000 children in Gaza are suffering from severe malnutrition that threatens their lives, following the UN’s official confirmation that the besieged territory has entered phase five famine classification.
In an interview with Al Mayadeen, Samir el-Hawari, UNICEF’s Deputy Acting Director for Emergency Programs, stressed that the crisis “is no longer only about food, but also the absence of proper healthcare.” He warned that immediate access to nutrition centers and medical services is essential to save thousands of children.
El-Hawari explained that the limited aid shipments recently allowed through Cyprus were insufficient, treating only about 1,000 children for one month. “The actual need is many times greater,” he added, stressing that the humanitarian response must include food, clean water, and basic health services—something “impossible without a full ceasefire.”
Read more: Foreign doctors blocked, baby formula denied: 'Israel' strangles Gaza
UN declares famine in Gaza
The United Nations officially declared famine in Gaza, warning that more than 500,000 Palestinians are facing catastrophic hunger.
UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini confirmed on Friday that “famine is now certain in Gaza City” after months of warnings that went unheeded. He emphasized that the humanitarian catastrophe unfolding in the enclave stems from both food shortages and the collapse of essential services.
Read more: UN-backed panel officially declares famine as Gaza’s population starve
A worsening disaster
The famine declaration comes as the war on Gaza enters its eleventh month, with humanitarian agencies repeatedly warning that "Israel's" cut-off of aid delivery has pushed the civilian population to the brink of starvation.
Despite limited aid corridors, the scale of need remains overwhelming. UN agencies warn that without sustained and unrestricted humanitarian access, tens of thousands of Palestinians—particularly children—face the risk of preventable death.
Read more: UN confirms man-made famine in Gaza
