Food & Climate
Famine in Gaza is approaching. With the imminent and complete collapse of agriculture and the potential outbreak of deadly epidemics in the Strip, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is calling for immediate humanitarian access and the lifting of the blockade.
This urgent call follows the latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) analysis, released today, Monday, May 12, 2025, warning that the entire population of approximately 2.1 million people is at risk of famine in Gaza after 19 months of conflict, mass displacement, and severe restrictions on humanitarian access, according to a statement received by “Food & Climate” platform.
According to the report, between April 1 and May 10, 2025, 93% of the population, or 1.95 million people, were classified as being in Crisis or worse (IPC Phase 3 or above), including 244,000 people, or 12% of the population, in IPC Phase 5 (Catastrophe), and 925,000 people (44%) in IPC Phase 4 (Emergency).
Famine in Gaza expectation
A report issued today by the FAO on famine in Gaza states that between May 11 and the end of September 2025, the entire population of Gaza is expected to be in Crisis or worse food insecurity (IPC Phase 3 or above).
In this regard, FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu stressed, “The international community must act now. It is critical that access for humanitarian and commercial supplies be restored immediately. Every delay exacerbates hunger and accelerates starvation, bringing us closer to famine.”
He added: “If we do not act, we will fail to respect the right to food, which is a fundamental human right, and we will fail to respect the legal basis for this right, undermining one of our fundamental principles: preserving civilian life”.
Restoring Livestock
The immediate restoration of humanitarian access is critical to maintaining a minimum level of local food production, especially livestock, to avoid famine in Gaza, according to FAO.
Despite FAO’s efforts to distribute more than 2,100 tons of animal feed and veterinary supplies to more than 4,800 livestock farmers in Gaza, current supplies fall short of the growing needs. FAO and its partners will provide additional veterinary supplies, animal feed, and other supplies as soon as access is permitted.
Most livestock production has ceased, with most production now limited to households for self-consumption. Livestock numbers in the sector have declined as follows: sheep by 36%, goats by 39%, cattle by 3.8%, laying and broiler chickens by 1.4%, and working animals by 79.5%. However, the remaining animals remain essential to household food security, as for many families they are the last available source of milk, eggs, and meat.
Due to the ban on all humanitarian and commercial inputs, an additional 20-30% of livestock are expected to die. Preserving these remaining animals is now critical to avoid irreversible losses that could lead to the complete collapse of livestock-dependent livelihoods.
Without feed and veterinary supplies, livestock keepers lose essential food resources, and untreated animals pose a significant public health risk as they can become vectors of disease, especially for those working in close proximity. Hence, the critical importance of allowing immediate access to prevent further losses, maintain minimum levels of nutrition, and protect public health.
Agriculture on the Brink of Collapse
Before October 2023, 42% of Gaza’s land (more than 15,000 hectares) was used for crop cultivation, orchards, and livestock grazing. However, a geospatial assessment conducted by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the United Nations Satellite Program (UNOSAT) between October and December 2024 revealed that 75% of fields used for crops and olive trees had been damaged or destroyed.
More than two-thirds of Gaza’s agricultural wells (1,531,000), which rely on groundwater for irrigation and agriculture, were rendered unusable by early 2025, significantly paralyzing irrigation operations.
A new assessment is currently underway by FAO and UNOSAT. Initial indicators show a further reduction in usable agricultural land, leaving little space to maintain or restore livelihoods.