UN Relief Chief demands urgent action to halt spread of famine and suffering in Gaza

07 September 2025

Statement on the Occupied Palestinian Territory by Tom Fletcher, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator

Israel’s latest displacement order against Palestinians in Gaza City comes two weeks since famine was confirmed in Gaza, and amid a massive military offensive.

There is a narrow window – until the end of September – to prevent famine from spreading to Deir al Balah and Khan Younis. That window is now closing fast.

Death, destruction, starvation and displacement of Palestinian civilians are the result of choices that defy international law and ignore the international community.

We continue to insist that this horror can be stopped.

Let humanitarian aid in – unimpeded and at the scale we can deliver.

Protect civilians.

Implement the International Court of Justice’s provisional measures.

Release the hostages.

Free arbitrarily detained Palestinians.

Ceasefire.

Read more on this issue: 

• UN Relief Chief says Gaza famine “must spur the world to urgent action” 
• Famine confirmed for first time in Gaza – Joint Press Release by FAO, UNICEF, WHO, and WFP 
• Gaza: Famine “irrefutably” confirmed, UN humanitarians unite in plea for aid access – OCHA, OHCHR, WFP and WHO 
• UNRWA Commissioner-General on Gaza: Famine is now confirmed in Gaza City 
• WFP: As famine grips Gaza, families turn to desperate measures to survive 
• UN Humanitarian Coordinator for the Occupied Palestinian Territory on famine in Gaza 
• UN Human Rights Chief says Gaza Governorate famine is direct result of Israeli Government actions 
• UNFPA: Gaza Famine a Catastrophe for Mothers and Infants 
• Press Conference: Famine in Gaza – Emergency Directors from FAO, WFP and UNICEF 
• UNFPA: Famine confirmed in Gaza – pregnant women and newborns at acute risk 
• Gaza’s Population Systematically Being Starved to Death, Speakers Warn Security Council, Demanding Immediate Ceasefire, End to Deliberate Famine 
• “Failure to act will have irreversible consequences,” UN Deputy Relief Chief tells Security Council on Gaza famine 
• UN Palestinian Rights Committee Bureau Calls for Urgent Action to End Gaza Famine 
• IPC Report Confirms Famine in Gaza: Joint Statement by UN Security Council 14 Members 
• “Palestinians must be able to live safely on their land.” Deputy Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process tells the Security Council 
• WHO and OCHA Press Briefing: We are on a descent into a massive famine in Gaza, say relief agencies 
• UN Relief Chief demands urgent action to halt spread of famine and suffering in Gaza – Question of Palestine
• Gaza: UN experts urge General Assembly to respond to famine and genocide – Question of Palestine