News Summary
Gaza is experiencing a severe famine exacerbated by ongoing military conflict, leading to alarming malnutrition levels among vulnerable populations, particularly children. Basic food items have skyrocketed in price, and reports indicate that many children, including young ones, are collapsing from starvation. As aid deliveries remain insufficient due to an Israeli blockade, the situation continues to deteriorate, prompting calls for immediate humanitarian intervention from international communities.
Gaza City is grappling with a catastrophic famine as the ongoing conflict exacerbates the humanitarian crisis, with recent reports indicating that malnutrition levels have reached alarming heights. Medical experts on the ground highlight a dire situation, especially for vulnerable populations like children, where starvation is becoming increasingly prevalent.
A 9-year-old girl, Maryam Abdulaziz Mahmoud Davvas, is one of the many children affected by severe malnutrition, unable to walk as of July 31, 2025. The conditions in Gaza are alarming, with reports of children as young as five collapsing from starvation. Basic food items have become luxuries; a kilogram of meat or sugar now costs approximately $100, making it unaffordable for most families. The medical community, including pediatricians, is not spared from this crisis, as they too are suffering from acute hunger, managing to survive on minimal meals.
Since the military offensive began in October 2023, over 60,000 Palestinians, primarily women and children, have lost their lives. The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) has issued warnings that a worst-case scenario of famine is currently unfolding, with experts suggesting that 100% of Gaza’s population could face acute food insecurity by September 2025. This dire situation is exacerbated by an Israeli blockade that has restricted food supplies into the region since March 2, 2025, significantly reducing food shipments.
Between March and June 2025, only 56,000 tonnes of food were permitted into Gaza, less than a quarter of what is required to sustain the population. Recent reports indicate that at least 163 people, including 93 children, have died from starvation in Gaza, highlighting the severity of the crisis. UNICEF’s estimates show that over 320,000 children are at risk of acute malnutrition, and malnutrition indicators in Gaza have already exceeded the famine threshold.
The connection between malnutrition and contaminated water further aggravates the situation, leading to numerous childhood illnesses. Humanitarian groups have accused Israel of employing starvation as a weapon of war, alleging deliberate hindrance of aid deliveries. Despite some acknowledgment of the crisis on international platforms, including pledges from former U.S. officials to provide food and medical assistance, the scale of aid entering Gaza remains vastly inadequate.
Reports indicate that aid distribution within Gaza has been chaotic and dangerous, with incidents of violence reported at distribution sites. As food deliveries continue to fall short of the required levels, an Israeli court revealed that the country controls the flow of food, allowing only what it considers necessary for survival. This control mechanism has drawn intense scrutiny and outrage from the international community, calling for immediate humanitarian intervention.
In response to the escalating situation, humanitarian agencies have started exploring initiatives like airdropping aid to the region. However, many experts express skepticism regarding the effectiveness of such measures in addressing the widespread hunger crisis. Additionally, Israeli officials have denied the existence of starvation, blaming the conditions on Hamas’s alleged hoarding of aid, which complicates the narrative surrounding the crisis further.
As the conflict continues, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza is getting worse, with medical experts emphasizing the need for urgent humanitarian intervention to prevent further loss of life. The plight of children is especially concerning, and health professionals call for the global community to urgently assess and address the dire situation in Gaza.
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Additional Resources
- The Guardian: The Mathematics of Starvation
- Wikipedia: Famine
- Al Jazeera: One in Three Palestinians in Gaza Going Days Without Food
- Google Search: Gaza food crisis
- The New York Times: Gaza Market Prices for Food
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Humanitarian Crisis
- The Washington Post: Trump’s Response to Gaza
- Google News: Gaza starvation
- Vox: Gaza Hunger Crisis
- Google Scholar: Gaza famine
- The Hill: Gaza Food Crisis
Author: STAFF HERE BALTIMORE WRITER
BALTIMORE STAFF WRITER The BALTIMORE STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREBaltimore.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Baltimore, Baltimore County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as the Baltimore Book Festival, Preakness Stakes, and Artscape. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Baltimore Chamber of Commerce and Visit Baltimore, plus leading businesses in shipping and healthcare that power the local economy such as the Port of Baltimore and Johns Hopkins Medicine. As part of the broader HERE network, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Maryland's dynamic landscape.
