Children in the Gaza Strip are facing a dire situation as they struggle with severe and rapidly worsening food deprivation, leading to an alarming number suffering from the most life-threatening form of malnutrition, according to United Nations experts.
UNICEF, the U.N. agency for children, reported that about one in every 20 children in shelters and health centers in northern Gaza is experiencing “severe wasting,” a critical sign of malnutrition where they are dangerously thin for their height. The findings were based on screenings conducted by the agency and released on Friday.
Among children under 2 years old, acute malnutrition has become fairly common across Gaza, with the most severe prevalence in northern Gaza. In some areas, rates of acute malnutrition have doubled since they were last recorded in January.
Even in Rafah, the densely populated area in southern Gaza with the greatest access to food, 10 percent of children under 2 are acutely malnourished, and 4 percent are severely wasting. Before the war, the rate of acute malnutrition among young children was less than 1 percent, and severe wasting was extremely rare.
UNICEF’s special representative in the Palestinian territories, Lucia Elmi, expressed alarm at the rapid deterioration of children’s health due to lack of essential nutrients. She emphasized the need for protein, vitamins, fresh products, and micronutrients, all of which have been missing in their diets.
The ongoing conflict in Gaza has taken a toll on children, with more than 12,000 children killed and 27 children in northern Gaza dying from malnutrition or dehydration, according to the Gazan Health Ministry. Palestinian parents are struggling to find enough food for their children, choosing to prioritize their children’s needs over their own.
The United Nations Population Fund representative for Palestine described the conditions in Gaza as beyond catastrophic, with residents facing extreme hunger and deprivation. Humanitarian groups have criticized Israel for its restrictions on aid entering Gaza, exacerbating the food shortage crisis.
Save the Children, an aid group, has called the situation in Gaza the worst in the world for children, with the crisis worsening each week. Without a cease-fire, it has been challenging for humanitarian teams to provide comprehensive assistance to Palestinians in need.
The lack of sanitation in Gaza, including dirty water and sewage on the streets, is further worsening the hunger crisis, putting children at risk of getting very sick very quickly. The international community is urged to take immediate action to address the urgent needs of children in Gaza facing severe malnutrition and food deprivation.
