Gaza Faces Escalating Humanitarian Crisis Amid Ongoing Conflict

Gaza, May 27, 2025 – The humanitarian situation in Gaza has reached critical levels as ongoing conflict, severe food shortages, and mass displacement continue to devastate the enclave’s population. Nearly two million Palestinians—about 93% of Gaza’s residents—are now experiencing emergency or catastrophic levels of food insecurity, with humanitarian agencies warning that famine is imminent if conditions do not improve rapidly.

Widespread Hunger and Starvation

The latest food security assessments reveal that half a million people in Gaza are facing outright starvation, while nearly 71,000 children under five are projected to suffer from acute malnutrition in the coming months. Since the aid blockade began in early March, at least 57 children have reportedly died from malnutrition, a figure likely to rise as essential supplies remain blocked at the borders. Aid organizations describe the situation as one of the world’s worst hunger crises, with the deliberate withholding of food and medical aid exacerbating the suffering.

Relentless Violence and Displacement

Intensified Israeli military operations have resulted in over 70 deaths in a single day, with hospitals—including the European Hospital—coming under attack. The United Nations reports that more than 180,000 people have been newly displaced in just the last ten days, bringing the total number of displaced to nearly 90% of Gaza’s population. Many families have been forced to move multiple times, seeking safety from bombardments and following repeated evacuation orders, particularly in areas like Khan Younis.

Collapse of Essential Services

The destruction of civilian infrastructure has left Gaza’s residents without reliable access to food, clean water, electricity, or medical care. Hospitals are overwhelmed or non-functional, and the spread of infectious diseases such as polio and hepatitis A is increasing due to overcrowded shelters and lack of sanitation. Aid shipments have resumed in some areas, with US- and Israeli-backed organizations attempting to distribute food, but the scale and coordination of these efforts remain insufficient to meet the massive needs.

International Response and Calls for Intervention

The United Nations and humanitarian agencies have called for urgent international intervention, emphasizing that the delivery of aid must be significantly scaled up to prevent further catastrophe. UN officials have warned that the use of starvation as a weapon of war could constitute a war crime, and have criticized the ongoing siege for creating a manufactured humanitarian disaster.

“We do not need to wait for a declaration of famine in Gaza to know that people are already starving, sick and dying, while food and medicines are minutes away across the border,” said WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

As the conflict enters its nineteenth month, the outlook for Gaza’s population remains dire. Without immediate and sustained humanitarian access, the crisis is expected to deepen, with more lives at risk from hunger, disease, and violence.