Richard Peeperkorn, WHO representative for the West Bank and Gaza, described the current situation as “one of the world’s worst hunger crises,” caused by deliberate restrictions on humanitarian aid, including food and medical supplies.
Speaking at a UN briefing in Geneva, Peeperkorn said the entire population of Gaza — around 2.1 million people — is at critical risk of famine after 19 months of war, displacement, and access limitations.
According to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), 93% of Gaza’s population – approximately 1.95 million people – were classified in IPC Phase 3 or higher between 1 April and 10 May. This includes 244,000 in Phase 5, defined as “catastrophe,” and 925,000 in Phase 4, “emergency.”
Peeperkorn warned that if the situation continues, up to 71,000 children under five could become acutely malnourished over the next 11 months. Nearly 17,000 pregnant and breastfeeding women are also at heightened risk.
The WHO said the crisis is compounded by the collapse of health systems, a lack of clean water, the spread of disease, and falling vaccination coverage.
WHO is currently supporting 19 treatment centres for malnutrition in Gaza, but said supplies are running low. Stocks are only sufficient to treat about 500 children, far below the actual need.
Peeperkorn called for an immediate end to aid restrictions, protection of health care infrastructure, the release of all hostages, and a ceasefire leading to sustained peace.
Earlier, Israeli-American hostage Edan Alexander, who was released by Hamas on Monday during a temporary pause on Israeli attacks, left Gaza.
However, Israeli airstrikes resumed shortly after, leaving several Palestinians dead and dozens wounded.
Palestinian health officials reported renewed Israeli attacks shortly after Alexander’s handover, including an airstrike on a shelter in Khan Younis that killed three people, and tank fire on a school in northern Gaza that killed a woman and wounded others.
Since October 2023, nearly 52,900 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza, most of them women and children, according to health authorities.
A ministry statement said that 33 people were killed in Israeli attacks in the enclave in the last 24 hours, while 94 others were injured, taking the number of injuries to 119,648 in the Israeli onslaught.
The Israeli army resumed its assaults on the Gaza Strip on March 18 and has since killed 2,749 people and injured over 7,600 others, shattering a ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement that took hold in January.Last November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.
Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the enclave.