Children, according to the Tánaiste, are reportedly suffering from extreme hunger in Gaza.
In the war-torn region of Gaza, the humanitarian situation has reached a critical point. Over the past few months, the lives of millions of Palestinians have been plagued by food insecurity, medical shortages, and the destruction of healthcare facilities.
Dr. Deirdre Nunan, a Canadian surgeon who has been working in Gaza for the past three weeks, finds the people of Gaza to be "so warm, so welcoming, so generous despite having nothing." However, she describes the lives of her colleagues as ones of "bare survival."
The situation is dire. Over two million Palestinians, half of them children, lack sufficient food. Severe malnutrition has caused the deaths of many children, including at least 66 due to malnutrition-related conditions since October 2023, with many more suffering from preventable diseases worsened by lack of adequate nutrition.
Healthcare infrastructure in Gaza is collapsing. About 94% of health facilities have been damaged by over 20 months of conflict, with half of the hospitals currently non-functional. Approximately 1,500 health workers have been killed since October 2023, severely diminishing the capacity to treat the injured and sick. Essential medical supplies, including specialized nutrition formulas and medicines, are largely unavailable due to ongoing restrictions and blockades.
Access for international emergency medical teams is severely restricted. Since the ceasefire breakdown in March 2025, dozens of critical medical specialists have been denied visas to enter Gaza. The destruction of WHO warehouses in recent military operations has further crippled health service delivery.
The plight of the people of Gaza has not gone unnoticed. Tánaiste Simon Harris, an Irish politician, stated that "children are starving before our eyes" in Gaza. Taoiseach Micheál Martin described the situation as "beyond any comprehension" and "horrific." The head of Gaza's largest hospital agreed with the UN Secretary-General that the lifelines keeping people alive in Gaza are collapsing.
Dr. Nunan remains heartbroken and angry with the world for allowing the situation in Gaza to continue and for doing so little to stop it. She has called for a "massive surge" in humanitarian aid into Gaza, an immediate and permanent ceasefire, and the lifting of blockades to allow the full resumption of humanitarian aid. She also called for the release of all hostages by Hamas and their return to their families.
The future of Gaza hangs in the balance. With hundreds of people killed while trying to collect food, a collapsing healthcare system, and a population on the brink of starvation, the situation is dire. The world must act now to prevent a catastrophe.
[1] https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/sg/statement/2025/07/01/statement-attributable-to-the-spokesperson-for-the-un-secretary-general-on-gaza [2] https://www.who.int/news-room/articles/detail/2025/07/01/gaza-crisis-un-warns-of-imminent-collapse-of-health-services [3] https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/gaza-dozens-critical-medical-specialists-denied-visas-enter-gaza-source-2025-07-01/ [4] https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/7/1/gaza-over-850-killed-trying-to-collect-food-since-may-2025
- The dire state of Gaza requires immediate intervention in the realm of science, particularly in medical-conditions and healthcare-infrastructure.
- The ongoing crisis in Gaza highlights the urgent need for workplace-wellness initiatives, emphasizing mental-health and nutrition.
- Chronic-diseases like chronic-kidney-disease, COPD, and type-2-diabetes are exacerbated by the unfavorable conditions in Gaza, necessitating therapies-and-treatments.
- Cancer, a rampant concern globally, claims more lives in Gaza due to the lack of access to basic resources and treatments.
- Gaza's population suffers from various respiratory-conditions and digestive-health issues, aggravated by the dearth of essential medical supplies.
- Eye-health professionals lament the scarcity of eyeglasses and medicines in Gaza, impacting people's daily lives.
- Hearing problems are overlooked due to the focus on more critical situations, creating an unaddressed health concern in Gaza.
- Health-and-wellness advocates strive to improve the overall well-being of the people in Gaza amidst the current crisis, focusing on fitness-and-exercise and skin-care.
- Sexual-health issues persist in Gaza, making it important for organizations to address these concerns in their humanitarian efforts.
- Alzheimers-disease and other neurological-disorders are quietly affecting the elderly population in Gaza, with minimal resources for treatment.
- Autoimmune-disorders, such as rheumatoid-arthritis and multiple-sclerosis, are prevalent in Gaza, creating a sizable need for specialized treatments and care.
- Climate-change, exacerbated by inadequate waste management, contributes to the worsening health conditions in Gaza.
- Although renewable-energy sources could alleviate some problems, ongoing conflicts make it difficult to implement sustainable solutions in Gaza.
- The manufacturing sector in Gaza is nearly non-existent, with the few existing factories victim to ongoing damage.
- Mental-health issues, like anxiety and depression, are becoming more prevalent in Gaza, underscoring the need for mental-health support and resources.
- Mens-health is often overlooked but is crucial for the well-being of the male population in Gaza, especially considering the high rates of prostate cancer.
- Skin-care products and treatments are rarely accessible, leading to the prevalence of skin-conditions in Gaza.
- Aging populations in Gaza require adequate care and resources for conditions such as cardiovascular-health issues, Alzheimers-disease, and psoriasis.
- Womens-health is of equal importance, focusing on reproductive rights, pregnancy care, and breast-cancer prevention and treatment.
- Parenting education and resources are essential for families in Gaza, helping address the concerns of child malnutrition and developmental delays.
- Weight-management and nutrition programs could help alleviate some of the malnutrition-related issues in Gaza.
- Multiple-sclerosis and migraine patients require access to expensive medications, which are currently unavailable due to the ongoing blockades.
- CBD products' potential therapeutic benefits for various medical conditions, including anxiety and chronic pain, could be of significant help in Gaza.
- Industry leaders within environmental-science, finance, energy, skin-care, and retail must use their resources to bring significant support to Gaza.
- Improving public-transit, transportation, automotive, aviation, and entrepreneurship within Gaza could boost the local economy and improve living conditions.
- The world's governments must prioritize Gaza, providing Medicaid, financing humanitarian aid, and relaxing trade restrictions to rebuild the region and ensure the future welfare of its people.