Hunger-related deaths in Gaza soar to 281

The total number of hunger-related deaths in the Gaza Strip has risen to 281, including 114 children, according to Gaza-based health authorities on Saturday.

This comes as eight more people died from famine and malnutrition in the past 24 hours, the health authorities said.

According to the latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) released on Friday, more than half a million people in Gaza are facing famine conditions marked by starvation and preventable deaths.

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 agency bases its conclusion on three key indicators. Firstly, starvation, where at least 20 percent of households are experiencing an extreme shortage of food. Families simply cannot feed themselves.

The second determining factor is malnutrition in the young, where 30 percent of children are found to be acutely malnourished.

While, the third criterion is mortality, where 2 adults or 4 minors in every 10,000 are dying every day due to outright starvation or the interaction of malnutrition and disease.

Hunger-related deaths in Gaza soar to 281

Hunger-related deaths in Gaza soar to 281

Hunger-related deaths in Gaza soar to 281

Hunger-related deaths in Gaza soar to 281

Hunger-related deaths in Gaza soar to 281

An Iranian delegation led by Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi arrived in Pakistan on Friday night to discuss regional developments and ongoing peace efforts, a spokesman for Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

Tahir Andrabi, the spokesman, said in a social media post that Araghchi is scheduled to meet Pakistan's leadership to exchange views on the evolving regional situation and efforts aimed at promoting peace and stability.

Upon arrival, the Iranian foreign minister was received by Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Chief of Defense Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, along with other senior officials.

Araghchi currently has no negotiation plans with U.S. representatives, but will convey messages to the U.S. side through Pakistani mediators, according to Iranian sources on Friday.

However, the White House said Friday that U.S. President Donald Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner are heading to Pakistan for talks with Araghchi this weekend.

U.S. Vice President JD Vance, who led the U.S. negotiating team during the first round of talks in Pakistan earlier this month, is not currently planning to attend the upcoming talks, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said, adding he will be standing by and consulting Trump alongside Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

Earlier in the day, Araghchi said in a social media post that he was embarking on a regional tour that includes stops in Islamabad, Muscat and Moscow. Araghchi emphasized that the purpose of the visit is to closely coordinate with partners on bilateral affairs and to consult on the regional situation. He also noted that Iran's neighbors are a priority for Iran.

Iranian delegation led by FM arrives in Pakistan