Gaza's Hunger Crisis: A Mother's Heartbreaking Story of Loss

Sat Sep 13 2025 11:41:48 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

A chilling account from a mother in Gaza reveals her daughter's suffering as famine conditions escalate amid ongoing conflict in the region.

In a poignant narrative, Rida Hijjeh recounts the devastating impact of famine during the ongoing conflict in Gaza City, as her five-year-old daughter Lamia has lost nearly half her body weight. With current reports confirming famine conditions, the struggle for survival intensifies. Various perspectives emerge on the situation, with disparity in claims regarding starvation from Israeli officials and humanitarian reports.

Gaza's Hunger Crisis: A Mother's Heartbreaking Story of Loss

A mother has told the BBC her five-year-old daughter has lost almost half of her body weight due to famine conditions in Gaza City. Lamia Hijjeh has lost 8.5 kg and cannot walk, as reported by her mother, Rida.

The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) recently raised its status to Phase 5, denoting the highest level of acute food insecurity, confirming the presence of famine in the Gaza Governorate, which includes Gaza City. Reports suggest catastrophic conditions may soon affect the regions of Deir al-Balah and Khan Younis.

In counterclaims, Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, have denied the existence of starvation in Gaza, labeling the IPC reports as an outright lie. This juxtaposition reflects the significant divide regarding the realities on the ground amid ongoing famine and conflict in the area.

As humanitarian efforts face delays and constraints, the plight of families like the Hijjehs marks a critical point of discussion on how famine affects civilians during conflict. The loss faced by Lamia and her family brings attention to the broader implications of the ongoing war.