Gaza’s children still struggling with hunger as another famine threatens

What Happened

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) warned last week that Gaza faces a severe food emergency that could develop into another famine. OCHA's head in Palestine, Justin Brady, stated that 67 percent of Gaza's population is experiencing food insecurity, and more than 200,000 people—roughly 10 percent of the population—are living in conditions that usually precede a formal famine declaration by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification. The previous famine, which lasted from August to December 2025, continues to affect children like Omar and Sama al-Bardini in al-Zawaida camp, central Gaza, who took around six months to regain health and weight after the acute phase ended. Their mother, Sahar al-Bardini, who lost her husband to Israeli shelling three years ago, relies on community kitchens serving mostly rice and basic ingredients, insufficient for proper nourishment. Nutrition specialist Dr. Ghada Jibril emphasized that children recovering from severe malnutrition require a varied diet including protein, iron, vitamins, and minerals, not just calories, to resume healthy growth and immune function.

Key Actors

Why It Matters

The ongoing food crisis, exacerbated by Israel's long-running siege and intermittent conflict, threatens to push Gaza back into famine, compounding the long-term health and developmental damage to children. The warning from OCHA highlights the fragility of food security in the enclave, where even after acute famine phases, recovery is slow and incomplete due to limited access to diverse, nutrient-dense foods. The situation underscores the broader humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, where a large portion of the population remains dependent on aid, and any disruption or insufficiency risks severe malnutrition and mortality, particularly among the most vulnerable.

Watch For

Monitor upcoming Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) assessments and any formal famine declaration. Track OCHA and other UN agency reports on food insecurity trends, aid deliveries, and nutritional surveys, especially any data indicating a deterioration beyond the current 67% food insecurity rate. Watch for developments in ceasefire negotiations or border crossing openings that could ease the siege and allow increased humanitarian access, as failure to do so may precipitate the warned famine. Also note any updates from nutrition specialists or health authorities on the prevalence of severe acute malnutrition among children.