At least 60,000 children in the Gaza Strip are facing severe health risks due to malnutrition as food supplies run low amid Israel’s ongoing blockade of aid. The Ministry of Health in Gaza issued this warning, highlighting the growing concern over inadequate nutrition and lack of access to clean drinking water, which exacerbates the region’s health challenges. This situation is further worsened by the continued ban on vaccinations, especially for polio.
The UN and aid agencies have been unable to deliver aid to Gaza since March 2, as Israel has sealed off border crossings, preventing the entry of food, medical supplies, and fuel. As a result, 21 nutrition centers have closed, leaving approximately 350 severely malnourished children without care. The World Food Programme (WFP) also raised alarms last month, stating that hundreds of thousands of people in Gaza are at risk of hunger and malnutrition, with food supplies running out in the coming weeks.
Israel has used food and aid blockades as a form of collective pressure during its ongoing war on Gaza, which has claimed over 50,000 lives. Aid organizations like UNRWA have pointed out that basic supplies are running out, leaving children and families without enough food.
In addition to the food shortage, Israel’s military has halted the flow of water to Gaza from the Israeli company Mekorot, cutting off 70% of the enclave's total water supply. This disruption, particularly in the Shujayea neighborhood, has raised concerns about a potential water crisis. Efforts to determine the cause of the interruption are underway, but if the water supply is not restored soon, Gaza could face a devastating water shortage.
