Malnutrition in Gaza is reportedly escalating to critical levels, as per the World Health Organization's latest statement.
Gaza Strip Faces Severe Malnutrition Crisis, Affecting Thousands of Children
The Gaza Strip is currently grappling with a severe malnutrition crisis, particularly affecting children and vulnerable groups, according to multiple authoritative sources. The situation in Gaza City is particularly dire, with the percentage of children aged six to 59 months suffering from acute malnutrition tripling since June 2025, making it the worst-hit area in the Palestinian territory.
Acute malnutrition among children under five has more than doubled from March to June 2025, exacerbating vulnerability in this age group. As a result, more than 320,000 children under five are now at risk, and hunger-related deaths are on the rise. The World Health Organization (WHO) reported 63 malnutrition-related deaths in July 2025 alone, with 24 of them being children under five.
Famine thresholds have been reached for food consumption across most of Gaza and for acute malnutrition specifically in Gaza City, signaling widespread starvation and hunger-related suffering. The breakdown of water and sanitation services is driving a dangerous cycle of illness and death, forcing families to risk their lives for a handful of food, often under dangerous and chaotic conditions.
The crisis stems from several interconnected causes, including ongoing violent conflict and hostilities, severely restricted humanitarian access, the collapse of critical services, and economic blockade and restrictions that have disrupted commercial goods import and local production.
Israel has recently implemented a limited "tactical pause" in military operations to allow the UN and aid agencies to tackle the deepening hunger crisis. However, the surge in malnutrition cases is overwhelming the only four specialised malnutrition treatment centres. The WHO calls for sustained efforts to flood the Gaza Strip with diverse, nutritious food, therapeutic supplies for children and vulnerable groups, essential medicines, and supplies.
The UN rights office reported that nearly three-quarters of the malnutrition-related deaths occurred near Gaza Health Facility sites. The WHO's chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, has referred to the situation as "mass starvation" that is man-made. Over 40% of pregnant and breastfeeding women are severely malnourished, according to Nutrition Cluster screening data.
Humanitarian agencies emphasize the urgent need to end hostilities to allow aid delivery and protect civilians. They also stress the importance of restoring life-saving humanitarian assistance and humanitarian access with safety and dignity. While a formal famine declaration has not been made, the situation already meets and exceeds famine-like conditions.
In summary, the Gaza Strip in 2025 is facing an acute malnutrition emergency driven by conflict, access restrictions, and the breakdown of basic services, severely affecting children and other vulnerable groups. Immediate humanitarian action and addressing root causes remain critical to preventing further loss of life.
- The increase in chronic diseases and medical conditions might be exacerbated due to the severe malnutrition crisis in the Gaza Strip, as children and vulnerable groups are at an increased risk.
- To combat the malnutrition crisis in Gaza, it's essential to focus on health and wellness, promoting fitness and exercise activities, and providing necessary nutrition for children, as well as improving access to medical services for chronic diseases and other health concerns.
- As the situation in the Gaza Strip worsens, the scientific community must collaborate with humanitarian organizations to develop innovative solutions for addressing food scarcity and malnutrition, particularly for children under five, in the context of ongoing conflicts and access restrictions.
