Gaza: Gaza's babies 'scarred by war before first breath' by malnutrition, the UN agency for children (UNICEF) said on Tuesday. Speaking to journalists in Geneva via video link, UNICEF Communication Manager Tess Ingram reported that at least 165 children have died from malnutrition-related conditions amidst the ongoing conflict in the region.
According to Palestine News and Information Agency - WAFA, Israel's military actions in Gaza since October 2023 have resulted in 70,366 Palestinian deaths, predominantly women and children, and 171,064 injuries. A significant issue arising from the conflict is the acute hunger affecting pregnant and breastfeeding women, which has severe implications for thousands of newborns.
Ingram shared that many newborns in Gaza hospitals are severely underweight, with some weighing less than one kilogramme at birth, highlighting the critical condition of these infants who struggle to survive. She explained that babies born with low birthweight are approximately 20 times more likely to die than those with normal weight.
Before the conflict in 2022, around five percent of babies in Gaza were born underweight. However, this figure has doubled to ten percent in early 2025, with an alarming rise to 15 percent in the months leading up to the ceasefire. This equates to about 460 underweight births per month, almost double the pre-war average.
Ingram identified poor maternal nutrition, increased stress, and limited antenatal care as primary causes of low birthweight in Gaza. In October alone, 8,300 pregnant and breastfeeding women were treated for acute malnutrition, a condition previously unseen in this demographic before the recent conflict.
The UN has responded by replenishing vital medical equipment and providing nutritional supplements to tens of thousands of affected women. UNICEF has also been actively screening children for acute malnutrition and enrolling them in necessary treatments. However, Ingram emphasized the urgent need for more aid, particularly nutritious food, to enter Gaza through commercial routes to reduce prices and increase accessibility.
Despite the ceasefire, over 70 children have died since its onset on October 10th. Ingram expressed concerns over the generational impact of the conflict, noting that it affects families profoundly. She stressed the need to prevent the 'domino effect' of malnutrition and stress from mothers to their newborns.
Ingram concluded with a call for adherence to international humanitarian law to prevent further suffering. She highlighted the severe consequences of the conflict and Israeli aid restrictions, which have depleted resources and exacerbated the plight of mothers and children in Gaza.
