UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher on Friday warned that Gaza is facing a severe famine caused by Israeli restrictions and obstruction of humanitarian aid, calling for an immediate ceasefire and full, unimpeded access to deliver food and supplies to civilians in urgent need. The warning came after the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) committee, responsible for determining the presence of famine, confirmed on Friday that famine is currently occurring in Gaza and is projected to expand. At the press briefing in Geneva, Fletcher stated that the famine unfolding in Gaza was entirely preventable but for Israel's sustained blockade on aid throughout the conflict. "Be in no doubt that this is irrefutable testimony. It is a famine, the Gaza famine. It is a famine that we could have prevented if we had been allowed. Yet, food stacks up at borders because of systematic obstruction by Israel. It is a famine within a few 100 meters of food, in a fertile land," said Fletcher. He urged an immediate ceasefire and the opening of all supply routes to enable large-scale, unhindered delivery of aid. More than half a million people in Gaza are facing famine conditions marked by starvation and preventable deaths, according to the IPC assessment released on Friday. The assessment, conducted by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF), the World Food Programme (WFP) and the World Health Organization (WHO), said famine in Gaza City is now spreading southward to Deir al-Balah and Khan Younis. By the end of September, over 640,000 people are projected to face catastrophic food insecurity, with an additional 1.14 million at emergency levels and nearly 400,000 in crisis conditions. The report confirmed that thresholds for extreme food deprivation, acute malnutrition and hunger-related deaths have been breached, marking the first officially declared famine in the Middle East since the IPC was established. The video shows: Geneva, Switzerland - April 11, 2025 (UNifeed - No access Chinese mainland/Not for sale) 1. Flags at entrance to Palace of Nations Geneva, Switzerland - April 22, 2025 (UNifeed - No access Chinese mainland/Not for sale) 2. SOUNDBITE (English) Tom Fletcher, UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator: "Be in no doubt that this is irrefutable testimony. It is a famine, the Gaza famine. It is a famine that we could have prevented if we had been allowed. Yet, food stacks up at borders because of systematic obstruction by Israel. It is a famine within a few 100 meters of food, in a fertile land." FILE: Gaza City, Gaza Strip - July 22, 2025 (CGTN - No access Chinese mainland) 3. Various of patient suffering from malnutrition lying in beds FILE: Gaza Strip - July 21, 2025 (CGTN - No access Chinese mainland) 4. Various of Palestinians scrambling for food at distribution site FILE: Gaza City, Gaza Strip - March 12, 2024 (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland) 5. Children banging pots, pans to protest against food shortage 6. Child holding placard reading (in English) "We are starving. Do you hear us?"