Gaza City: The 21-month-long war in Gaza has resulted in more than 58,000 deaths and 100,000 injuries, with a disturbing increase in child fatalities due to malnutrition. Recent reports from UN agencies indicate nearly 900 deaths of Gazans attempting to secure food, many of which are linked to private aid centers managed by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF).
According to United Nations, Juliette Touma, director of communications for the UN agency for Palestine refugees (UNRWA), has frequently visited Gaza and other conflict zones, reflecting on the dire conditions faced by children. Her experiences in places like Yemen, during a cholera outbreak, resonate with the current crisis in Gaza, where children are succumbing to severe hunger.
Touma recounts how the situation in Gaza, already under a blockade for over 15 years, has worsened since her visits in 2022. Back then, food was accessible through imports and local farming, supplemented by UNRWA's food aid to over a million people. However, the escalating conflict has led to a rapid increase in malnutrition across Gaza.
The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that over 50 children have died from malnutrition since the siege commenced on March 2. UNRWA has screened 242,000 children in its clinics, revealing that one in ten is malnourished. The story of Ahlam, a seven-month-old severely malnourished child, highlights the plight of many families displaced by the war, struggling with inadequate nutrition and hygiene.
A critical shortage of therapeutic supplies exacerbates the crisis, as Israeli authorities maintain a stringent blockade restricting essential goods. Despite occasional easing of the siege, UNRWA has been unable to deliver humanitarian aid since March. The tragic death of Salam, a malnourished infant, underscores the urgency for medical intervention and supplies.
The recent bombing of a clinic resulted in the deaths of eight children awaiting nutritional support, a stark reminder of the conflict's toll on Gaza's youngest residents. Touma questions how many more children like Ahlam and Salam must die before the world intervenes.
UNRWA has over 6,000 trucks loaded with food, hygiene supplies, and medicines ready to enter Gaza, alongside more than 1,000 health workers prepared to offer specialized care. The international community is urged to act swiftly to prevent further loss of life and to advocate for a ceasefire to protect Gaza's vulnerable children.
