"Rafizi revitalizes Ayuh Malaysia as a grassroots effort aimed at strengthening social entrepreneurships within the 'third sector,' countering the government's capabilities in this area"
The World Health Organization (WHO) has raised alarm bells over the escalating malnutrition crisis in the Gaza Strip, reporting a significant increase in deaths due to malnutrition in July. According to the WHO, 24 children under five, one child over five, and 38 adults have tragically lost their lives due to malnutrition-related causes.
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. This makes it the worst-hit area in the Palestinian territory.
The WHO has called for an immediate escalation of humanitarian aid, urging the expedited delivery of therapeutic supplies for children and vulnerable groups, essential medicines, and supplies. They also emphasize the need for a sustained effort to "flood" the Gaza Strip with diverse, nutritious food.
The current causes of the malnutrition crisis primarily stem from a total siege imposed by the Israeli government since March 2025. This blockade has drastically restricted food imports, medical supplies, and humanitarian aid, leading to severe food shortages and disrupted access to adequate nutrition for vulnerable populations, including children under five and pregnant or breastfeeding women.
The breakdown of water and sanitation services is another factor driving the crisis, creating a dangerous cycle of illness and death. Families in Gaza are being forced to risk their lives for a handful of food, often under dangerous and chaotic conditions.
The WHO has warned that the crisis is on a "dangerous trajectory," marked by a spike in deaths in July. The surge in malnutrition cases is overwhelming the only four specialised malnutrition treatment centres in the Gaza Strip.
The UN rights office reports that Israeli forces have killed more than 1,000 Palestinians trying to get food aid in Gaza since the Israel- and US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation started operations in late May. Nearly three-quarters of them died near GHF sites.
Solutions emphasized by WHO and partner agencies involve immediate humanitarian aid escalation, calls for an immediate, permanent ceasefire and lifting of the siege, increased international pressure and diplomatic efforts, nutrition screening and treatment programs, and large-scale humanitarian pauses announced by Israel to allow food aid delivery. However, these pauses are seen as insufficient without the removal of the blockade.
The WHO states that the crisis in the Gaza Strip is entirely preventable. They urge sustained efforts to address the root causes and ensure unhindered access to food, healthcare, and humanitarian aid for all those in need.
- The World Health Organization (WHO) has urged a sustained effort to flood the Gaza Strip with diverse, nutritious food, acknowledging that the malnutrition crisis in this region is entirely preventable.
- The escalating malnutrition crisis, marked by a spike in deaths in July, has overwhelmed the only four specialized malnutrition treatment centers in the Gaza Strip, highlighting the need for increased nutrition screening and treatment programs.
- The situation in Gaza City is particularly severe, with the rate of children aged six to 59 months suffering from acute malnutrition tripling since June, underlining the importance of paying close attention to health-and-wellness, nutrition, and lifestyle as related to food-and-drink choices within the context of the crisis.
