GAZA CITY, GAZA STRIP – The UN’s children agency, World Health Organization (WHO), and World Food Programme are raising alarms following the release of a new report on malnutrition in Gaza.
UNICEF Deputy Executive Director for Humanitarian Action Ted Chaiban expressed concern about the looming nutrition crisis in the Gaza Strip, warning of a potential surge in preventable child deaths. The report highlights an extreme situation in the north of Gaza, where almost one in six children under the age of two are acutely malnourished and have been cut off from humanitarian aid relief for weeks. In Rafah, located in the south, 5 percent of children under two are also acutely malnourished.
According to the report, malnutrition in Gaza is posing grave threats to children’s health, with 95% of households limiting meals and portion sizes, and 64% of households only being able to eat one meal a day. The combination of hunger and disease is deeply concerning, as hungry and weakened children are more susceptible to illness, creating a dangerous and tragic situation.
The head of the WHO’s Health Emergencies Programme, Dr. Mike Ryan, highlighted the deadly combination of hunger and disease, emphasizing the increased likelihood of illness in hungry and deeply traumatized children.
The dire situation in Gaza demands immediate attention and action to prevent a further escalation of preventable child deaths and to provide essential aid and relief to those in need. The report’s findings serve as a stark reminder of the urgent need for international support and intervention to address the critical malnutrition crisis in Gaza.