Child malnutrition crisis in Gaza
The United Nations has sounded the alarm over a severe increase in child malnutrition in Gaza. According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), more than 2,700 children under five have been diagnosed with acute malnutrition—a number that has nearly tripled since February. Screenings in late May of nearly 47,000 children revealed that 5.8% are now suffering from this life-threatening condition.
Medical Facilities Shut Down
Children with severe acute malnutrition who need hospitalization face an even grimmer situation. Hospital admissions doubled in May, yet only four stabilization centers remain functional in all of Gaza. Facilities in North Gaza and Rafah have shut down, cutting off access to essential care for the most vulnerable patients.
Since January, over 16,500 children under five have been treated for severe malnutrition. Of these, 141 cases involved critical complications needing urgent medical care.
Health System Near Collapse
The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared that Gaza’s healthcare system is on the brink of collapse. It called for immediate protection of the last functioning hospitals—Nasser Medical Complex and Al-Amal Hospital. WHO stressed that hospitals must remain safe, accessible, and fully operational.
“Patients should not risk their lives just to reach medical help,” the WHO stated.
Accusations Against Israeli Forces
UN agencies, medical charities, and local health officials have accused Israeli forces of systematically targeting health infrastructure. They argue that these attacks aim to make life unlivable for Gaza’s population, worsening the humanitarian crisis.
