An estimated 1.4 million people in Gaza are expected to face "high levels of acute food insecurity" through December 2026, up from 1.2 million during the mid-April to June period, despite improvements driven by humanitarian assistance, according to a new Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) analysis released.
The IPC said on Thursday the number of people experiencing crisis (Phase 3) or worse conditions is projected to rise to 67 percent of Gaza's population, while 212,000 people are expected to remain in emergency (Phase 4). All five governorates are classified in crisis.
The report said expanded humanitarian assistance following the October 2025 ceasefire helped improve food security and nutrition, with food aid reaching about 1.49 million people in May. However, it warned that rations remain insufficient, livelihoods have collapsed, and 83% of households report having no source of income, leaving most families dependent on external assistance.
The IPC cautioned that recent gains remain "highly fragile" as humanitarian assistance has declined since February because of funding constraints and uncertainty surrounding the operations of international aid organisations. It warned that, without humanitarian food assistance, an estimated 1.9 million people — about 90 percent of Gaza's population — would face high levels of acute food insecurity through December.
The report also projected that 74,200 children under five would require treatment for acute malnutrition by April 2027, including 11,432 severe cases.
Meanwhile, 24,600 pregnant and breastfeeding women need urgent nutritional support.
The IPC called for sustained humanitarian access, expanded nutrition programs and a permanent cessation of hostilities to prevent a reversal of recent improvements.
