The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) has revealed a shocking statistic: one in ten children screened in its clinics in Gaza since the beginning of the year has been found to be malnourished. This alarming trend is particularly concerning given that it comes in the wake of an escalating humanitarian crisis exacerbated by a strict blockade imposed in March.
During a video briefing in Geneva, UNRWA’s Director of Communications, Juliette Touma, provided insight into the troubling situation. “Our health teams are confirming that malnutrition rates are increasing in Gaza, especially since the siege was tightened more than four months ago,” she stated from Amman, Jordan.
From January 2024 alone, UNRWA has screened over 240,000 children under the age of five at its clinics, revealing a stark contrast to pre-war conditions when acute malnutrition was a rare occurrence in the region. “One nurse we spoke to told us that in the past, he only saw these cases of malnutrition in textbooks and documentaries,” Touma added, emphasising the severity of the situation faced by healthcare professionals and families in Gaza.
Amidst this escalating crisis, basic provisions such as medicine, nutritional supplies, hygiene materials, and fuel are rapidly depleting. The rising rates of malnutrition echo broader concerns for the humanitarian landscape of Gaza, where access to essential services remains limited.
On May 19, Israel lifted an 11-week blockade on aid to Gaza, allowing some deliveries from the United Nations to resume. However, UNRWA continues to be barred from bringing aid to the enclave directly. The complex dynamics also involve accusations from Israel and the United States against the militant group Hamas of misappropriating UN-led aid operations—claims that Hamas denies. In response, they have established the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, collaborating with private US security and logistics firms to manage the distribution of aid, a venture that UNRWA has opted not to partner with.
Further highlighting the urgency of the situation, UNICEF reported recently that over 5,800 children were diagnosed with malnutrition in Gaza in the previous month, marking an alarming increase. Among these cases, more than 1,000 children were categorised as suffering from severe acute malnutrition, indicating a need for immediate and robust interventions.
As conditions deteriorate, the future of Gaza’s children hangs in the balance. International attention and action are critical now more than ever, as the health and well-being of the youngest residents of Gaza remain at unprecedented risk.