The United Nations said on Friday that the famine in Gaza has ended due to more humanitarian aid reaching the area. However, hunger and the emergency situation remain very serious. Nearly one in eight people still suffer from food shortages. Winter flooding and cold weather have made things worse. Most residents live in tents or poor housing after Israel destroyed much infrastructure during the two-year war. Since an October ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, Israel has allowed more aid but it is still limited and irregular, the UN said. The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), a UN food crisis monitor, said, "No areas are classified in famine." In August, the IPC had declared a famine in parts of Gaza, after Israeli limits on aid caused at least 450 starvation deaths, according to Gaza’s health ministry. Though famine is over, the IPC said Gaza is still in an "emergency" stage, the second-worst level. This means very high malnutrition and death rates due to lack of food. Before the ceasefire, Israel’s blockade severely restricted aid entry. UN’s Tom Fletcher called this a "systematic obstruction". Since the ceasefire, Israel has let more aid from the UN and partners enter Gaza. The IPC said, "Following the ceasefire … notable improvements in food security and nutrition" happened. But aid workers warn the ceasefire is fragile. Israel carries out near-daily strikes, and both sides accuse each other of violations. Around 1.6 million people may face "crisis" hunger in the next four months. If fighting resumes, famine could return. Israel rejects famine claims. Its foreign ministry spokesperson Oren Marmorstein said on X, "even the IPC had to admit that there is no famine in Gaza." Cogat, Israel’s agency for Gaza aid, called the IPC report "distorted, biased, and unfounded." Despite this, the UN and humanitarian groups widely acknowledge famine existed. Oxfam called hunger in Gaza "appalling." Nicolas Vercken of Oxfam France said, "Oxfam alone has $2.5m worth of aid, including 4,000 food parcels, sitting in warehouses just across the border. Israeli authorities refuse it all." Many live in flooded, crowded tents during cold weather. A baby died of hypothermia recently. Bilal Abu Saada, nurse at Nasser hospital, said, "Children are losing their lives because they lack the most basic items for survival." The ceasefire remains weak. Talks continue on a second phase of the deal aimed at lasting peace. US envoy Steve Witkoff is meeting Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey officials to push this forward. The second phase calls for Israel to pull back from 53% of Gaza, replace Hamas with a transitional authority, and bring in international forces. Qatar’s prime minister warned that delays and violations "endanger the entire process."