Gaza City – Alarmingly high rates of malnutrition continue to endanger the lives of young children in the Gaza Strip, according to a recent statement released by UNICEF. The organization revealed that screenings conducted in October identified approximately 9,300 cases of acute malnutrition among children under the age of five.
UNICEF emphasized that the situation is further exacerbated by the onset of winter, which accelerates the spread of disease and heightens the risk of mortality, particularly among the most vulnerable children. The agency stressed the urgent need for increased humanitarian access to the region.
“Large quantities of winter supplies are waiting at Gaza’s borders,” UNICEF stated, calling for safe, rapid, and unimpeded delivery of humanitarian aid. The organization urged the simultaneous opening of all crossings into the Gaza Strip, with streamlined clearance procedures and expanded capacity. They also advocated for the passage of humanitarian relief through all available supply routes, including those via Egypt, Israel, Jordan, and the West Bank.
“Thousands of children under five are still suffering from acute malnutrition in Gaza, while many lack adequate shelter, sanitation services and protection from the winter,” said UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell. “Too many children in Gaza continue to face hunger, disease and exposure to the cold, in conditions that put their lives at risk.”
According to UNICEF, essential supplies, particularly animal-source foods, remain either unavailable or prohibitively expensive for the majority of Gaza’s population. With the arrival of winter, thousands of displaced families remain in temporary shelters without warm clothing, blankets, or protection from the elements.
DZWatch continues to monitor the situation and will provide updates as they become available.
