In Khan Younis, Gaza Strip, the Israeli military’s ongoing bombardment since October has created a humanitarian crisis, with aid groups warning of potential preventable child deaths due to severe food poverty and lack of access to medical care at Nasser Hospital. The conflict, now the deadliest between Israel and Gaza, shows no signs of letting up soon, and the brief cease-fire that allowed for the release of over 100 hostages from Gaza remains a distant memory.
A new analysis by the Global Nutrition Cluster, a humanitarian aid partnership led by the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund, found that 90% of children under the age of 2 in the war-torn Gaza Strip are facing severe food poverty, while 95% of pregnant and breastfeeding women also face the same condition. The report also revealed that more than 80% of homes in Gaza lack clean and safe water, with the average household having only one liter per person per day. This has led to concerns about an “explosion in preventable child deaths” in Gaza, according to aid groups.
Gaza’s health ministry has accused the Israel Defense Forces of turning Nasser Hospital into a “military barracks,” endangering the lives of patients and medical staff. The hospital, the main medical center serving the southern Gaza Strip, is now without electricity, water, food, and treatment capabilities for difficult cases since Israeli ground troops raided the facility. The World Health Organization has also confirmed that the hospital is no longer functional, and has evacuated critical patients to receive treatment elsewhere.
The Israel Defense Forces allege that Hamas, the Palestinian militant group that governs Gaza, has been conducting military operations out of Nasser Hospital and other medical centers in the war-torn enclave, claims which Hamas denies. The ongoing conflict has further exacerbated the already dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, leading to increased concerns about the well-being and safety of the civilian population. The continued bombardment and siege have left hundreds of innocent people at risk, with limited access to essential resources and medical care.
As the conflict between Israel and Gaza continues to escalate, the international community is facing growing pressure to intervene and facilitate a peaceful resolution. The humanitarian crisis in Gaza has reached a critical point, with aid groups warning of the devastating consequences if the conflict does not end soon. The situation in Gaza remains precarious, with the lives of innocent civilians hanging in the balance as the conflict shows no signs of abating.