UN Finds Child Malnutrition in Gaza Doubles as Israeli Strikes Kill Dozens
The United Nations has issued a grave warning over the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza, revealing that child malnutrition rates have more than doubled in the past few months. This alarming development comes as Israeli military strikes continue to escalate, reportedly killing dozens of Palestinians and further crippling an already devastated population.
According to the latest report from UNICEF and the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the number of children suffering from acute malnutrition in Gaza has skyrocketed since the start of the conflict in October 2023. With infrastructure destroyed, food supply chains shattered, and aid severely restricted, the most vulnerable—especially infants and young children—are paying the highest price.
UN officials described the situation as “catastrophic and worsening by the day.” The ongoing blockade and relentless bombardments have rendered Gaza’s healthcare system nearly inoperable. Hospitals are overwhelmed, many operating without electricity or clean water, and medical staff are struggling to treat malnourished children suffering from related infections, dehydration, and trauma.
Malnutrition in children, especially during early development, can have lifelong consequences including stunted growth, weakened immunity, and cognitive impairments. UNICEF reports that over 80% of children under five in Gaza now face food insecurity, and more than 30% are already showing signs of wasting—one of the most severe forms of malnutrition. Many families are surviving on one meal a day, often consisting of bread and little else.
Meanwhile, Israeli airstrikes continue to target what the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) describe as Hamas infrastructure and weapons caches. However, recent strikes have also hit refugee camps, residential buildings, and UN schools serving as shelters. According to the Gaza Health Ministry, dozens were killed over the weekend, many of them women and children. The death toll in Gaza is now estimated to be over 38,000 since the conflict reignited, with tens of thousands more injured and displaced.
The Israeli government maintains that its actions are necessary to eliminate threats from Hamas and ensure national security, but human rights organizations and international observers have called for restraint. The UN has repeatedly urged all parties to adhere to international humanitarian law, emphasizing the need to protect civilians and allow unrestricted access to humanitarian aid.
Efforts to broker a ceasefire have so far failed. Truce negotiations led by Egypt and Qatar have stalled amid mutual distrust and disagreements over prisoner releases and reconstruction efforts. In the meantime, the humanitarian crisis deepens. The World Food Programme (WFP) has warned that Gaza is on the brink of famine, and the region’s children are at risk of becoming a “lost generation.”
As global concern mounts, the UN has called for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire, the full opening of all crossings for food and medical aid, and the protection of civilians. Without urgent international action, officials warn, the death toll from starvation and preventable diseases could soon surpass that of the conflict itself.
In the words of UN Secretary-General António Guterres: “The children of Gaza are not just collateral damage—they are being starved, maimed, and killed in plain sight. The world must act now.”