The Human-Made Famine Catastrophe Unfolding in Gaza and South Sudan
The Human-Made Famine Catastrophe Unfolding in Gaza and South Sudan
World Hunger Day was observed on May 28 to raise awareness about global food insecurity and encourage action to end hunger. This year's theme is "Sowing Resilience", focusing on how combating climate change can help ensure food security for all.
For three months, the world has watched a heartbreaking humanitarian crisis unfold in Gaza. Millions of vulnerable individuals—infants, children, women, and men—are grappling with devastating hunger in a region where the very act of obtaining food has become a forbidden struggle.
South Sudan is facing one of the world’s most prolonged hunger crises, with over 8 million people experiencing severe food insecurity, according to reports from the Organization for World Peace and the United Nations. Ongoing violence continues to block humanitarian aid, leaving countless individuals without access to essential supplies.
The stark reality is that this widespread starvation is not caused by natural disasters or climate change but rather results from deliberate political decisions, often described as a 'policy of starvation.
Starvation as a Weapon of War
The total blockade has turned Gaza into a place where hunger is being used as a method of control. Over the past three months, vital supplies like food, medicine, and fuel have been cut off, creating a devastating humanitarian crisis. Over 2.1 million people face acute food shortages, trapped in a cycle of starvation and disease. Nearly 500,000 individuals suffer from catastrophic hunger, at imminent risk of starvation, according to a UN-backed assessment.
Children are dying—right now, as the world watches. Since the blockade began, at least 57 children have lost their lives due to malnutrition, and their fragile bodies are unable to withstand the worsening crisis. Experts warn the actual number may be far higher, as aid workers struggle to reach those in need.
On a recent report, on June 3, 2025, a UN food aid convoy was attacked near Al Koma, North Darfur. Multiple trucks carrying essential supplies were set ablaze while attempting to deliver aid to a famine-stricken region, further deepening the humanitarian crisis.
The World’s Worst Hunger Crisis—Unfolding in Real Time
The World Health Organization (WHO) has acknowledged Gaza as one of the world's worst hunger crises. People are starving, sick, and dying, yet aid remains blocked or drastically limited. Every attempt to deliver life-saving supplies is met with obstacles, leaving the entire population trapped in a slow, agonizing death. If action is not taken immediately, projections suggest that in the next 11 months, 71,000 children under five will suffer acute malnutrition, many of them perishing from preventable hunger. This is not a famine caused by nature—it is entirely manufactured by human decisions.
A Crime Against Humanity
The human-made famine unfolding in Gaza and South Sudan is not only immoral and unethical, it is a clear violation of human rights and international law. Under the Geneva Conventions, the intentional deprivation of food or humanitarian aid is explicitly prohibited. It is classified as a war crime, reinforcing the gravity of the ongoing situation. Yet millions remain without access to food and medical aid, trapped in a crisis they cannot escape.
Food Deprivation: A Violation of Faith, Religious Beliefs, and Cultural Traditions
Across major religions, the act of denying food is considered unjust and morally wrong. Many faiths emphasize compassion, generosity, and the responsibility to feed the hungry.
Christianity teaches that feeding those in need is an act of righteousness. Jesus' words, "For I was hungry and you gave me food" (Matthew 25:35), highlight the duty to care for the vulnerable. Stories like Elijah and the widow of Zarephath underscore the importance of divine intervention and human compassion in times of scarcity.
Judaism reinforces this principle through tzedakah—a concept rooted in justice and social responsibility. Jewish teachings insist that ensuring food for the needy is not mere charity, but it means “justice” or “righteousness” central to Jewish ethics. Encouraging generosity and social responsibility, says Rabbi Menachem Posner, on his website Chabad.org
Islam regards feeding the hungry as an act of righteousness, strongly encouraged in the Quran. The withholding of food from those in need is viewed as a moral failing. Likewise, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism emphasize non-harm and generosity, integrating food into spiritual and ethical practices.
Beyond religious values, cultural traditions around the world honor food as a means of unity and hospitality. Sharing a meal is an expression of community, love, and respect. In many societies, guests are welcomed with warmth and nourishment, reinforcing food’s role in human connection.
Food deprivation—especially when caused by injustice or conflict—violates the ethical teachings of many religions and traditions. It is a shared moral duty to ensure that those suffering from hunger receive aid and nourishment- food nurtures our bodies, minds, and souls.
The Urgency for Action
The world cannot afford to remain silent. This is a moment for international leaders to act decisively—to intervene, pressure, and ensure the immediate release of humanitarian aid. The blockade must end, and essential supplies must reach the people who depend on them for survival.
We, ordinary citizens, have the power to demand action. Advocacy, protests, petitions—whatever role we can play, we must. As climate activist Greta Thunberg said while joining an aid ship sailing to Gaza, breaking the blockade:
"Not even near as dangerous as the silence of the world in the face of the live-streamed genocide."
Every life lost to starvation is a failure of global humanity. Every child dying from hunger is a stain on the conscience of the world. We must choose to speak, to resist, to demand justice—before Gaza is lost forever.
As the World YMCA powerfully stated:
“Gaza is enduring more than just a humanitarian crisis—the crisis is existential.”
In Solidarity,
Sunita Suna
Executive Secretary
Asia Pacific YMCA