Malnutrition Among Children in Gaza Worsens Amid Ongoing Conflict and Aid Shortages

Children in northern Gaza are facing escalating levels of malnutrition, with aid workers and doctors reporting that even those without preexisting health conditions are now dying from lack of food. According to the Gaza Health Ministry, 28 children have died from malnutrition-related causes over the past month, though it is unclear how many had underlying medical issues. The ministry's figures are regarded by the United Nations and other experts as the most reliable available.

The situation has deteriorated following months of Israeli blockade and disruptions in aid distribution. While Israel has recently allowed some aid into Gaza and introduced measures such as airdrops and temporary pauses in military operations, humanitarian organizations say these efforts have not significantly improved access to food. The U.N. estimates that nearly one in five children in Gaza City and northern Gaza is now acutely malnourished, and more than 5,000 children were diagnosed with malnutrition this month, a figure believed to be an undercount.

Doctors report that treating malnourished children is increasingly difficult due to shortages of medical supplies and nutritional supplements. The impact is especially severe among children with special needs or those injured during the conflict, who require specialized diets and care that are no longer available. One mother, Hiyam Awad, described her seven-month-old son Salem's declining health, stating, "He just keeps losing weight. At the hospital, they say if he doesn’t get milk, he could die."

Israel denies that famine is occurring or that children are starving, asserting that it has supplied sufficient food throughout the conflict and attributing shortages to alleged diversion of aid by Hamas. Humanitarian groups dispute claims of significant aid diversion and note that the number of aid trucks entering Gaza remains well below the 500 per day the U.N. says are needed.

The ongoing war has also led to inadequate health care and poor sanitation, compounding the effects of malnutrition. Families and medical staff continue to report worsening conditions, with many children now unable to access the nutrition and treatment they require.