The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the World Food Programme (WFP), and UNICEF called for the immediate opening of crossings and the entry of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip. They warned of the imminent threat of famine, the complete collapse of the agricultural sector, and rising rates of malnutrition and mortality due to the ongoing blockade and the deprivation of food, water, and healthcare.

The new UN report, the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), released Monday evening, showed that the entire population of the Gaza Strip, approximately 2.1 million people, are facing severe food insecurity. 93% of the population (1.95 million people) are classified between Phases 3 and 5, with 244,000 people (12%) in Phase 5 (catastrophic famine), 925,000 (44%) in Phase 4 (emergency), and the rest in Phase 3 (food crisis).

The report revealed that approximately 470,000 people are currently suffering from actual famine, while 71,000 children and more than 17,000 mothers require immediate treatment for severe malnutrition. Since the beginning of 2025, an estimated 60,000 children have been in need of immediate treatment.

The United Nations expects the situation to continue to deteriorate during the period from May 11 to the end of September 2025, with the entire population remaining in a state of food crisis or worse.

In the agricultural sector, the FAO indicated that 42% of Gaza's land (more than 15,000 hectares) was cultivated before October 2023, but 75% of fields and olive groves were damaged or destroyed during military operations, and that two-thirds of agricultural wells (1,531 wells) were no longer usable by early 2025.

Although FAO has distributed more than 2,100 tons of fodder and veterinary supplies to more than 4,800 herders, supplies fall short of needs, and the agency has confirmed that an additional 20-30% of livestock are at risk of dying if the entry of care supplies continues.

"Entire families are starving while aid stands at borders without permission to enter," warned World Food Programme Executive Director Cindy McCain, emphasizing that "famine doesn't come suddenly, but rather occurs when people are denied access to food and care."

UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell stressed that hunger and malnutrition have become a daily reality for Gaza's children, calling for immediate action to avert a humanitarian catastrophe.

The report indicated that more than 116,000 tons of food aid were ready at the crossings, enough to feed approximately one million people for four months, but these were not allowed in due to the blockade. Food stocks were also completely depleted, and all 25 subsidized bakeries had been closed since the end of April due to a shortage of wheat flour and cooking fuel.

UN agencies called for respect for international humanitarian law and immediate access for supplies, warning that the continued blockade would lead to death rates exceeding famine levels in the coming months.