Children in Gaza facing imminent risk of hunger and malnutrition, according to UNICEF
In the Gaza Strip, a severe hunger crisis is unfolding, marked by famine-like conditions and alarming malnutrition rates. According to the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), approximately a third of Gaza's 2.1 million residents are going without food for consecutive days, and a quarter of the population is facing famine-like conditions.
The situation has become critical, with nearly 100,000 women and children suffering from severe acute malnutrition that requires urgent treatment. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports a sharp spike in malnutrition-related deaths, particularly among children under five, and states that the situation remains entirely preventable if humanitarian aid were allowed through.
The cause of this crisis is primarily due to the deliberate blocking and delay of large-scale food, health, and humanitarian aid deliveries. The WFP has enough pre-positioned food stock outside Gaza to supply the entire population for two months, but it cannot deliver it due to ongoing conflict and aid access restrictions.
Responsibility for blocking or severely restricting aid deliveries lies with the parties controlling access to Gaza. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have stated they will conduct aid airdrops to alleviate the hunger crisis, indicating that ground access remains heavily constrained due to military operations and security concerns. However, the blockade and restrictions on goods entering Gaza have been enforced by Israel, with Egyptian border controls also playing a role in limiting access. This blockade has contributed directly to the severe humanitarian conditions by preventing sufficient humanitarian aid flow.
The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) has described the situation in the Gaza Strip as "intolerable" and has called for unhindered access for humanitarian aid into the region. The organization warns that children in the Gaza Strip are at risk of starvation, with 80% of the reported deaths being children. This is the highest number since the beginning of the conflict.
Despite the ongoing crisis, there have been no new reports of child deaths or malnutrition numbers since the last bullet points. However, the number of child deaths due to malnutrition has risen from 52 in April to 80. In June alone, 6,500 children were treated in hospitals for malnutrition, and the number of children suffering from acute malnutrition has quadrupled in the city of Gaza since February.
Global Acute Malnutrition rates have tripled in Gaza City and doubled in other areas in less than a month, worsening rapidly due to access and security restrictions that prevent many families from reaching health services. The UN spokespeople have stated that the Israeli military is delaying the approval of transports with bureaucratic procedures, while government representatives claim that the UN and its organizations are refusing to distribute goods in Gaza.
This situation constitutes a humanitarian emergency, with aid agencies emphasizing that if ceasefire and safe access for aid were ensured, sufficient supplies could prevent further loss of life. The crisis underscores the urgent need for all parties involved to prioritize humanitarian aid and allow for unhindered access to the population in need.
- The Commission, while focusing on various global issues such as science, health-and-wellness, fitness-and-exercise, and mental health, has also been consulted on the draft resolution regarding the urgent aid deliveries in the Gaza Strip.
- Amidst this hunger crisis, it's crucial to emphasize the importance of nutrition, ensuring that those in Gaza receive adequate food and essential nutrients to help combat the widespread malnutrition.
- As the critical situation in the Gaza Strip unfolds, it is imperative to prioritize health-and-wellness initiatives, extending beyond mere food aid to also include mental health support and fitness-and-exercise programs for both children and adults, as physical activity and mental well-being play a pivotal role in overall health.
