LONDON, August 22, 2025 (WAFA) - UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy stressed that the confirmation of famine in Gaza City and the surrounding neighborhood is utterly horrifying and wholly preventable.

The Foreign Secretary has issued a statement in response to the famine declared in the Gaza Governorate as determined by the Famine Review Committee, stating, “The Israeli government’s refusal to allow sufficient aid into Gaza has caused this man-made catastrophe. This is a moral outrage.”

“The IPC report makes clear the sickening consequences, especially for children. The Government of Israel can and must immediately act to stop the situation from deteriorating any further. It must immediately and sustainably allow unhindered food, medical supplies, fuel, and all types of aid to reach those who so desperately need them,” he said.

The UK Foreign Secretary added, “The Israeli government must allow the UN and international NGOs to carry out their life-saving work without obstruction. Aid must reach those in need urgently and without delay.”

“We desperately need an immediate ceasefire to enable aid delivery at maximum speed and at the scale required. This includes halting the military operation in Gaza City, which is the epicentre of the famine.”

He reiterated the UK’s condemnation of the military action, warning that it would only worsen the already catastrophic humanitarian situation, and urged the Israeli government to change course and halt its plans.

“This terrible conflict must end. An immediate and permanent ceasefire is the only way to stop the suffering, secure the release of the hostages, achieve a surge in aid and deliver a framework for lasting peace,” he concluded.

T.R.