Gaza: The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) reported that nearly 9,300 cases of acute malnutrition were recorded among children under five in the Gaza Strip during October. High levels of malnutrition are threatening the lives and well-being of these children, exacerbated by the onset of winter, which facilitates the spread of disease and heightens the risk of death among the most vulnerable.
According to Palestine News and Information Agency - WAFA, large quantities of winter supplies are currently stalled at Gaza's borders, prompting an urgent call for the safe, swift, and unhindered delivery of humanitarian aid to the enclave. UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell emphasized the dire situation, noting that thousands of children continue to suffer from acute malnutrition, compounded by inadequate shelter, sanitation services, and protection from the cold.
Children in Gaza are still grappling with hunger, disease, and exposure to low temperatures, living in conditions that severely threaten their lives. The agency highlighted the scarcity and unaffordability of essential items, particularly animal-source foods, for most families in Gaza.
UNICEF further reported that the Gaza Strip requires approximately 300,000 tents and prefabricated housing units to address basic shelter needs following infrastructure destruction during two years of conflict. A substantial volume of winter supplies remains at the border, awaiting entry.
The agency has called for the safe, rapid, and unimpeded delivery of humanitarian assistance to Gaza in line with international humanitarian law. It also urged the simultaneous opening of all crossings into Gaza, streamlined and expanded clearance procedures, and the utilization of all available supply routes, including through Egypt, Israel, Jordan, and the West Bank.
Source: Palestine News and Information Agency - WAFA
