Recent data from the United Nations reveals a disturbing trend in the health of children under five in Gaza, with almost one in 10 experiencing acute malnutrition.
The findings point to the aftermath of Israel’s recent conflict with the territory’s Hamas rulers, highlighting the impact on the youngest population.
The data, obtained through arm measurements indicating physical wasting, suggests a significant increase in malnutrition rates, now at 9.6%, approximately 12 times higher than pre-war levels.
The decline in food supplies, particularly in areas heavily affected by the conflict since October 7, has contributed to the crisis.
In the northern Gaza region, the malnutrition rate among young children stands at a staggering 16.2%, affecting one in six children.
Aid workers report visible signs of starvation, with food trucks facing challenges in reaching hospitals due to large crowds desperately seeking sustenance.
Amid these dire circumstances, reports from the charity ActionAid indicate that some Gazans are resorting to eating grass.
The overall situation is dire, with every person in Gaza experiencing hunger, and access to only 1.5 to 2 litres of unsafe water per day for all their needs, according to the charity.
The Islamic Relief charity shares harrowing accounts from Gaza, where residents describe the scarcity of essential food items.
Attempts to make bread using dried corn, previously designated for animal feed due to the scarcity of flour, underscore the severity of the crisis.
Project HOPE, an international non-profit organization, reported alarming rates of malnutrition among pregnant women in its central Gaza clinic, with approximately 15% affected.
Additionally, there is a surge in cases of anaemia, posing risks of premature births and postpartum bleeding.
Dr Santosh Kumar, medical director of Project HOPE, who recently returned from Gaza, expressed deep concern about the deteriorating situation.
He and his team, in a show of solidarity, limited themselves to one meal a day while witnessing the stark reality faced by Gazans.
Starvation, loss of dignity, and desperation were expressed by locals, with some stating that “dead people are luckier.”
The unfolding humanitarian crisis requires urgent attention and intervention to alleviate the suffering of the Gazan population, particularly its vulnerable children.
