Famine in Gaza: Give now to support humanitarian response efforts

9/5/25 Update: Gaza’s economy has collapsed under the weight of conflict and blockade, with food prices soaring up to 7,000% since October 2023.

The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) confirms what Mercy Corps and other aid organizations have urgently warned for months: Gaza is now experiencing famine.

This is the first time a famine has been officially confirmed in the Middle East.

Over half a million people in Gaza City are facing catastrophic shortages, with over a million more people projected to be at risk of starvation and death in the next month as famine may spread to more areas.

Over 130,000 children younger than five are at risk of death from acute malnutrition.

Mercy Corps Chief Executive Officer, Tjada D’Oyen McKenna, says:

"This confirmation of famine is absolutely horrifying yet not surprising. This is the direct result of months of deliberate restrictions on aid...This is a man-made catastrophe, entirely preventable and entirely unconscionable.

Since October 2023, Mercy Corps has reached over 371,000 people with emergency assistance—including:

-4,387 food kits,
-13,223 hygiene kits,
-3,189 shelter kits,
-Cash transfers to over 33,255 families,
-Clean water to over 4,500 people, and
-Psychosocial support to 5,719 youth and 2,639 parents/caretakers in Gaza.

As soon as the borders open our teams and partners on the ground will be able to distribute aid to over 160,000 and to support thousands more through local partners.

Yet millions more will continue to face starvation and disease in Gaza without a lasting ceasefire to restore basic services like water and electricity, and safe routes to deliver humanitarian aid.

Your support will go where it is needed most, helping us mobilize our teams in response to humanitarian crises around the world. Mercy Corps teams are already on the ground where help is most needed. We work in more than 40 countries alongside communities as they prepare for, protect against, and recover from crisis.