Children in Gaza have experienced severe, potentially irreversible harm due to malnutrition.
Gaza Faces Severe Malnutrition Crisis Amidst Ongoing Conflict
Gaza is grappling with a deepening hunger crisis, with children bearing the brunt of the impact. The crisis, which has been ongoing since October 2023, has worsened significantly due to a full blockade imposed by Israel in March 2025.
The United Nations reports that around one-third of the population goes without food for days, and hospitals report sharp increases in hunger-related deaths, particularly among children under five. Acute malnutrition affects nearly 17% of children under five in Gaza City, with over 320,000 children at risk across the strip.
Dr. Mohammed Mansour, a senior nutrition manager with the International Rescue Committee in Gaza, reports a severe shortage of significant nutrition elements in diets due to the restricted food supply. Hospitals in Gaza have nothing left to offer to malnourished children like Mohammad, a 1 1/2-year-old child who weighs less than 4.5 kilograms.
Young mothers, like Hidaya Al-Motawaq, who was displaced after her husband was killed in Israel's war in Gaza, are trying to keep their children alive despite the lack of food and resources. Salwa Shamali, a 20-year-old woman in Gaza, spends all her time trying to find ways to keep her young siblings alive due to the hunger crisis.
Doctors warn that the damage to Palestinian children after months of hunger may already be irreversible. Ahmed Al-Farra, a doctor who heads the pediatric ward at Nasser Hospital in southern Gaza, says this war is scarring a generation of children. He worries that if children survive, they will suffer from neurological impairments brought by the starvation, such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, difficulty in school performance, and comprehension issues.
Israel's military has begun a daily 10-hour pause in fighting in some of Gaza's biggest population centers to deliver more food and aid. However, food aid remains minimal, and the overall blockade largely continues, which critics say constitutes a violation of international humanitarian law. The World Food Programme and UN agencies stress the urgent need for lifting restrictions and enabling full-scale humanitarian access to prevent widespread deaths from starvation and malnutrition.
The hunger crisis in Gaza demands immediate, large-scale humanitarian intervention to prevent catastrophic loss of life. The crisis has triggered warnings that Gaza is on the brink of famine, meeting two out of three current key famine indicators according to UN agencies and the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC).
References:
- Al Jazeera
- The New York Times
- The Guardian
- UNICEF
- World Food Programme
- The government condemns the ongoing malnutrition crisis in Gaza, urging Israel to lift the blockade for the delivery of enhanced food and medical aid.
- Amidst the emotional toll of war and conflicts in Gaza, mental health services are working tirelessly to support traumatized children and families.
- In an attempt to maintain a sense of normalcy, fitness and exercise programs are being organized in Gaza's shelter zones to boost children's physical and mental well-being.
- World News outlets have reported on the escalating crime and justice concerns related to the theft and diversion of food aid within Gaza, emphasizing the need for accountability.
- With overcrowded hospitals and limited resources, Gaza's health and wellness sector struggles to respond to the influx of car-accident victims amidst the ongoing crisis.
- To address the urgent need for balanced nutrition in Gaza, experts have called for government intervention, advocating for increased access to fresh produce, protein sources, and essential vitamins and minerals.
