Key facts
- Children in Gaza are experiencing severe malnutrition and stunting due to Israel's blockade.
- Amira Rashid, a six-year-old, suffers from severe acute malnutrition, stunting, and cognitive developmental issues.
- Babies like Amna Abu al-Hasani are born malnourished due to their mothers' starvation during pregnancy.
- Doctors state that the malnutrition has caused permanent physical and cognitive damage to affected children.
- Despite a ceasefire, insufficient aid and high food prices prevent adequate treatment and recovery.
- Aid agencies are cutting food rations due to funding shortfalls, worsening the humanitarian crisis.
Children in Gaza are suffering from severe malnutrition and stunting as a direct consequence of Israel's blockade and the ongoing conflict. Six-year-old Amira Rashid, for example, is severely malnourished and stunted, with doctors noting her bone age is that of a two-year-old, impacting her physical and cognitive development. Her mother, Aya Rashid, expressed despair over her daughter's condition, stating that the malnutrition has caused permanent damage and that recovery within Gaza is unlikely.
Similarly, 10-month-old Amna Abu al-Hasani was born prematurely and underweight because her mother suffered malnutrition during pregnancy. Amna now faces major complications in her heart, kidneys, and lungs, all stemming from her malnourished state at birth. Her mother, Youssef Abu al-Hasani, fears for her daughter's future, as specialized tests and treatments are unavailable in Gaza.
Dr. Mohammed Abu Rai from al-Rantisi Hospital confirmed that the facility receives dozens of malnourished children daily, necessitating the opening of additional wards. While a recent IPC report indicated a decline in acute malnutrition following a ceasefire, it warned that tens of thousands of children and pregnant/breastfeeding women would still require treatment. Dr. Abu Rai stated that the amount of food entering Gaza is insufficient to treat malnutrition or resolve the food crisis, with vegetables and fruits sold at unaffordable prices and the quality of available meat being poor due to reliance on frozen products and inadequate storage.
Furthermore, funding shortfalls are forcing aid agencies like the World Food Programme to reduce food rations, exacerbating the food security crisis. Israel's blockade has severely impacted Gaza's healthcare system and restricted medical travel abroad, leaving families with limited options for their children's treatment.