WHO Declares Gaza Starvation Crisis ‘Man-Made’ Disaster/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ The World Health Organization’s director has labeled the hunger crisis in Gaza a “man-made” mass starvation, blaming restrictions on humanitarian aid. Despite limited easing of Israel’s blockade, aid deliveries remain critically low, with food and medical supply shortages leading to rising death tolls. WHO and aid groups warn the humanitarian catastrophe is escalating fast, especially among children and pregnant women.
WHO Gaza Starvation Warning + Quick Looks
- WHO chief blames blockade for ‘mass starvation’ in Gaza
- Over 100 aid groups say food and water are stuck outside Gaza
- At least 111 Palestinians reported dead from starvation, says Gaza Health Ministry
- Children and pregnant women severely affected by malnutrition
- Israel defends aid restrictions to prevent Hamas diversions
- Food treatment centers overwhelmed and undersupplied
- Only a fraction of needed aid is reaching Gaza residents
- More than 5,100 children admitted to malnutrition programs in July
- Aid delivery gap between March and May lasted nearly 80 days
- WHO calls situation catastrophic, urges unrestricted aid access
WHO Declares Gaza Starvation Crisis ‘Man-Made’ Disaster
Deep Look
The World Health Organization (WHO) issued a dire warning this week, calling the growing humanitarian crisis in Gaza a “man-made” mass starvation event. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the crisis has been directly caused by restrictions on aid deliveries imposed during the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas.
“I don’t know what you would call it other than mass starvation, and it’s man-made,” Tedros said during a live-streamed press conference from Geneva on Wednesday. “This is because of [the] blockade.”
The comments come as more than 100 international aid organizations urge immediate humanitarian access to the Palestinian enclave, where food, clean water, and essential medical supplies remain stranded just outside the region. Israel cut off aid to Gaza in March 2025 and only partially reopened the flow in May, citing security concerns that Hamas may divert resources for militant use.
Despite Israel’s assertion that it is allowing sufficient aid, humanitarian groups say the deliveries are insufficient and heavily restricted. The limited inflow of supplies has proven disastrous for Gaza’s 2.2 million residents, with aid agencies warning of a full-blown famine.
Starvation Deaths on the Rise
The Gaza Health Ministry reported that ten more people died from starvation overnight, pushing the total number of confirmed starvation-related deaths to 111. Most of the deaths have occurred in recent weeks, signaling a rapid deterioration of food security in the war-torn region.
The WHO revealed that 21 children have died from malnutrition so far in 2025 — a figure they say vastly underrepresents the true toll due to underreporting. Malnutrition treatment centers are at capacity and lack the necessary emergency feeding supplies. WHO officials warned the health system is overwhelmed as conditions worsen and aid pipelines remain unreliable.
March–May Blockade Caused Critical Gap
Between March and May, WHO and other humanitarian partners were unable to deliver any food into Gaza for nearly 80 days. Although limited aid resumed in June, the quantity remains far below what is needed.
WHO officials report that 10% of individuals screened in recent weeks were found to be suffering from moderate or severe malnutrition, including approximately 20% of pregnant women. Rik Peeperkorn, WHO’s representative in the occupied Palestinian territories, said that in July alone, more than 5,100 children were admitted to malnutrition programs. Of those, 800 were in critical condition and severely emaciated.
“The system is on the brink,” said Peeperkorn, emphasizing that the hunger emergency is being compounded by logistical bottlenecks and ongoing conflict.
Israel’s Stance and International Reactions
Israel has continued to defend its control over aid entering Gaza, stating that any relief effort must prevent supplies from being seized by Hamas. Officials argue that Hamas bears primary responsibility for the humanitarian disaster, accusing the group of exploiting aid deliveries for political and military gain — a claim Hamas denies.
Meanwhile, calls for Israel to lift the blockade have grown louder. Human rights organizations, foreign governments, and international relief agencies have criticized the restrictions as a form of collective punishment. Critics argue the policies violate international humanitarian law and exacerbate the suffering of civilians, particularly vulnerable populations like children and the elderly.
What’s Next?
As global attention refocuses on Gaza, the WHO and aid organizations are urging immediate and unrestricted humanitarian access to prevent more deaths. They stress the need for neutral, secure channels to deliver food, medicine, and water at scale, without interference or redirection.
Whether political actors heed these calls remains uncertain. But as Tedros warned, the clock is ticking. Without swift, comprehensive action, the region faces a worsening catastrophe that could soon become irreversible.
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