Published on 14 Nov 2025
The United Nations has declared an official famine in Gaza in August 2025, marking the first such occurrence in West Asia.
The Famine Declaration is a formal global classification used by the UN and partners to signal catastrophic food insecurity.
Common causes of famine include conflicts, natural hazards, economic decline, inadequate humanitarian response.
It is declared through the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) framework, jointly managed by UN agencies and humanitarian organisations.
Criteria for declaration
At least 20% of households face extreme food shortages.
Acute malnutrition exceeds 30% in children.
The mortality rate is over 2 deaths per 10,000 people per day.
Also earlier it has been declared in Somalia (2011, 2022), South Sudan (2017), Yemen (2018–ongoing risk), Ethiopia’s Tigray (2021), Sudan (2024).
https://www.un.org/unispal/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/IPC_Famine_Factsheet.pdf
https://www.unrefugees.org/news/famine-explained-definition-causes-and-facts/
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c05ed5rgld3o
Famine Declaration by UN
Gaza
United Nations
UN
food insecurity
Integrated Food Security Phase Classification
IPC
Somalia