The latest food security analysis for Gaza shows that famine has been averted for now, but UN agencies warn the situation remains on a knife’s edge. Without renewed funding and consistent access for aid and trade, hundreds of thousands could slip back into famine within weeks, according to a joint statement from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), the World Food Programme (WFP), and the World Health Organization (WHO).
The latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) report confirms that no areas of the Gaza Strip are currently in famine following October’s ceasefire and improved humanitarian access. Still, 1.6 million people—77% of the population—remain in crisis or emergency levels of food insecurity. Over 100,000 children and 37,000 pregnant and breastfeeding women are projected to suffer acute malnutrition through April next year, while four governorates, including Gaza City, remain one step below famine status.
Humanitarian deliveries and limited commercial imports have brought modest improvements, but most families still face severe shortages. Over 730,000 people remain displaced, many living in overcrowded, makeshift shelters with restricted access to safe water, sanitation, and healthcare. Destruction of farmland, fishing grounds, and roads has crippled local food production. Children and pregnant women continue to face dangerously high malnutrition rates, while 79% of households cannot afford basic food or clean water. With winter setting in, families are burning wood or trash for warmth, raising the risk of respiratory and infectious diseases.
“Gaza’s farmers, herders and fishers are ready to restart food production, but they cannot do so without immediate access to basic supplies and funding,” said Rein Paulsen, FAO’s Director of Emergencies and Resilience. “The ceasefire has opened a narrow window—only rapid support can help reduce dependence on aid.” UNICEF’s Director of Emergency Operations, Lucia Elmi, called the situation “fragile”: “Children are no longer facing deadly famine, but they remain in grave danger. Food is in markets, but families can’t afford it. Health facilities are barely functioning, water is scarce, and winter is adding to the suffering. These fragile gains could vanish overnight if fighting resumes.”
WFP’s Emergency Director Ross Smith noted that “when we have access, security, and funding, we can push back famine,” urging donors to “double down on these gains” and help families move from survival to recovery. WHO’s Humanitarian Director, Altaf Musani, warned that only half of Gaza’s health facilities are partially functional, with critical shortages of medical supplies and equipment.
“Malnutrition remains high, especially among women and children. WHO is running seven stabilization centers across Gaza—but far more is needed to meet growing health needs,” he said.
FAO, UNICEF, WFP, and WHO are calling on all parties to guarantee sustained humanitarian and commercial access, lift restrictions on essential imports, and urgently boost funding for food, health, water, and livelihood programs. Without immediate, large-scale support, the hard-won gains since the ceasefire could be lost, pushing Gaza’s people back into famine and deepening the humanitarian crisis.
