• Gaza's entire population faces critical levels of hunger amid an Israeli aid blockade.
• About 22% of residents, approximately 470,000 people, are under catastrophic food insecurity.
• The World Health Organization reported at least 57 children have died from malnutrition since March.
• Over 116,000 metric tons of food aid are stuck at borders due to blockade conditions.
• Urgent calls for humanitarian aid access grow as deteriorating conditions lead to increased risks, especially for children.

The humanitarian situation in Gaza has reached critical levels, with the entire population grappling with severe food insecurity as a result of the Israeli blockade that began in early March. According to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), nearly 2.1 million people in Gaza are in dire need, with about 22% of the population currently classified as experiencing "catastrophic" levels of food insecurity, equivalent to famine conditions. The situation has deteriorated rapidly since previous assessments in October 2024, when only 12% were projected to be in such dire straits. This alarming assessment indicates that factors such as prolonged military operations and restrictions on aid are directly exacerbating the crisis, affecting both food access and related healthcare needs, as reported by Indiatimes, ABC News, and Dawn.

Recent reports suggest that over 116,000 metric tons of food aid are currently stalled at border crossings, with humanitarian officials emphasizing that this aid is critical for averting widespread starvation. Additionally, the World Health Organization (WHO) reports a particularly tragic statistic that at least 57 children have died from malnutrition since the blockade's commencement on March 2. The WHO has stated that Gaza is experiencing "one of the world's worst hunger crises," and unless significant changes to the blockade are made, conditions will continue to deteriorate sharply, exacerbating the existing humanitarian needs, according to AA and TRT Global.

The IPC report projects that if the current circumstances persist, nearly 71,000 children under five years old are predicted to face acute malnutrition within the next year, alongside thousands of pregnant and breastfeeding women at risk. Experts warn of a dire future if immediate action is not taken to facilitate humanitarian access to essential supplies such as food and medical care. Reports indicate that humanitarian aid distributions have significantly dwindled, with many aid initiatives shutting down due to lack of supplies. From April to the end of April, there was a stark reduction in meal support from the World Food Programme (WFP), which had been providing over a million meals daily until conditions forced that number down dramatically, as cited by NPR and AA.

Humanitarian experts highlight that the blockade has led to severe malnutrition among children, with many families resorting to extreme measures to secure basic sustenance such as smashing pasta to bake bread. The figure of $560 for a bag of flour exemplifies how the skyrocketing food prices are beyond the reach of most Gaza residents. The combination of conflict, restricted access to supplies, and rising malnutrition threatens to enhance the vulnerability of children and the elderly, further entrenching the cycle of poverty and health deterioration in the region, according to Dawn and Indiatimes.