UN warns that all children under five in Gaza face the threat of malnutrition.

The United Nations has issued a grave warning regarding the deteriorating humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip, particularly affecting children under the age of five. The World Food Programme has reported that approximately 320,000 children in this vulnerable age group are at risk of life-threatening malnourishment, a dire consequence of the ongoing blockade restricting essential aid to the region.

The blockade has severely disrupted nutrition services, leaving many children without access to safe water, nutritious food, or therapeutic feeding programs. Pediatrician Seema Jilani noted the extensive impact of malnutrition on children’s health, highlighting that it could lead to multi-organ failure and hinder developmental milestones, resulting in lifelong consequences.

Recent reports indicate a rise in fatalities due to malnutrition and starvation, with the Gaza Health Ministry confirming six new deaths within a 24-hour period, including that of a child. Since the beginning of the conflict, a total of 181 individuals have reportedly succumbed to hunger-related causes, with almost half being children. Additionally, the ministry has highlighted an alarming increase in cases of acute soft paralysis among children, linking these to infections and severe malnutrition.

The situation has prompted Gaza’s government to allege that more than 22,000 humanitarian aid trucks have been systematically blocked from entering the territory. This obstruction has exacerbated the ongoing crisis, which has seen the region under a stringent blockade since March. This strategic denial of aid has raised concerns not only for the immediate welfare of those affected but also for the long-term implications for public health and societal stability in Gaza.

The plight of individual families under these conditions underscores the broader humanitarian crisis. For instance, a 14-year-old boy named Mosab al-Dibs, who is currently hospitalized in Gaza City due to a severe head injury from an Israeli air raid, suffers from both paralysis and malnutrition because crucial resources have become scarce.

In another instance, at a makeshift shelter for displaced Palestinians, a mother shared her struggles to provide for her children, who both have cerebral palsy and require a specialized diet. While the health of her sons was previously stable, the ongoing conflict and blockade have left her with few provisions to meet their dietary needs.

Ahmad Alhendawi, Middle East director of Save the Children International, described the situation in Gaza as catastrophic, emphasizing the urgent need for a sustained supply of food and medical assistance to reverse the extensive harm inflicted by prolonged malnutrition and starvation. The international community’s role in addressing these challenges remains critically important as the humanitarian situation continues to unfold.

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