August 22, 2025 | 09:26 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The United Nations (UN) officially declared a famine crisis in Gaza on Friday, August 22, 2025, with experts estimating that over 500,000 people are facing catastrophic conditions. The UN’s declaration was immediately disputed by Israel.
According to a report by NDTV, UN Relief Chief Tom Fletcher stated that the famine could have been entirely prevented. He attributed the crisis to "systematic obstruction by Israel' that has prevented food from reaching the Palestinian territory.
In its most recent update on Friday, the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) confirmed that famine has been present in Gaza since August 15, 2025, affecting approximately 20% of the Gaza Strip. The famine is projected to spread to the governorates of Deir el-Balah and Khan Yunis by the end of September, which would ultimately impact about two-thirds of the Palestinian territories.
The UN report stated, "After 22 months of relentless conflict, over half a million people in the Gaza Strip are facing catastrophic conditions characterised by starvation, destitution and death."
Based on data collected between July 1 and August 15, 2025, this number is projected to increase to nearly 641,000 people, or almost a third of the population, by the end of September.
The IPC also noted the collapse of the local food system, citing that approximately 98% of Gaza's farmland is damaged or inaccessible. Additionally, livestock has been destroyed, and fishing is prohibited. The health system has also severely deteriorated, with access to safe drinking water and adequate sanitation drastically reduced.
Israel's Rejection and Counterclaims
In an immediate response, the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs denied the UN's declaration, asserting that there is "no famine in Gaza."
Israel claimed that the report by the Rome-based IPC panel was "based on Hamas lies laundered through organisations with vested interests."
The Ministry added, "In recent weeks, a massive influx of aid has flooded the Strip with staple foods and caused a sharp decline in food price." The Israeli Ministry of Defense also dismissed the report, stating, "This assessment too will be thrown into the despicable trash bin of political documents."
The Israeli defense ministry agency overseeing civilian affairs in the Palestinian territories, known as COGAT, also condemned the findings. COGAT stated, "COGAT firmly rejects the claim of famine in the Gaza Strip, and particularly in Gaza City. Previous reports and assessments by the IPC have repeatedly been proven inaccurate and do not reflect the reality on the ground."
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