Canada warns of ‘catastrophic’ humanitarian crisis in Gaza

Canada’s Foreign Affairs Minister has issued a stark warning about “life-threatening levels of acute malnutrition” in Gaza, as humanitarian conditions continue to deteriorate across the territory.

In a joint statement released yesterday with International Development Minister Ahmed Hussen, Melanie Joly cited findings from the Famine Review Committee that indicate famine is either occurring or imminent in northern Gaza areas.

“This means that civilians – men, women and children – are dying because of the lack of humanitarian assistance allowed into Gaza”, Joly said, referencing the committee’s earlier assessment that 133,000 people in Gaza face catastrophic food insecurity.

The Canadian ministers emphasised that current aid levels remain insufficient for survival needs, with humanitarian agencies facing “preventable impediments” to their operations. Their statement called on Israel to “abide by its obligations under international humanitarian law” and significantly increase humanitarian assistance to the civilian population.

The humanitarian crisis has intensified in the aftermath of the October Hamas attack on Israel, which claimed 1,200 lives and resulted in more than 250 hostages being taken, according to Israeli figures.

Palestinian health officials report that the subsequent military campaign in Gaza has resulted in more than 43,500 Palestinian deaths. The territory, home to over 2 million people, has been largely reduced to rubble, with its population now seeking shelter in makeshift tents amid severe shortages of food and medical supplies.

The ministers’ intervention comes as international pressure mounts for improved humanitarian access to the besieged territory, where destroyed infrastructure and limited aid corridors have created increasingly desperate conditions for civilians.