More than 2,700 children under five in Gaza are suffering from acute malnutrition, according to a recent report from the United Nations. This alarming figure shows a dramatic rise in cases since February, highlighting the worsening conditions in the region.
In the second half of May, nearly 47,000 children were screened for malnutrition. Of these, about 5.8 percent, or 2,733 children, were diagnosed with acute malnutrition. This number is almost three times higher than the rates reported just three months earlier.
The situation is dire, with the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) noting that the number of children requiring hospitalization for severe acute malnutrition has also doubled in May compared to previous months. Since January, over 16,500 children have been treated for severe acute malnutrition, including 141 who had complications that necessitated hospital care.
Despite this growing need, there are only four stabilization centers in Gaza for treating severe acute malnutrition with medical complications. Some centers in North Gaza and Rafah have had to suspend operations, leaving many children without access to critical treatment.
The UN’s warning comes amid a broader crisis in Gaza, where the entire population is facing starvation. The World Health Organization (WHO) has raised alarms about the collapse of the health system in the area. They have called for urgent protection for two of Gaza’s last functioning hospitals, the Nasser Medical Complex and Al-Amal Hospital, which are at risk of becoming non-functional.
The WHO stated that the ongoing attacks on hospitals must stop immediately. They emphasized that patients seeking care should not have to risk their lives to reach medical facilities.
Medical experts and humanitarian organizations have accused Israeli forces of deliberately targeting healthcare workers and facilities, exacerbating the already critical situation for the Palestinian population in Gaza. The ongoing conflict and blockade have made life increasingly unbearable for many families, especially vulnerable children.