An Israeli military strike near Deir el-Balah, Gaza, destroyed a warehouse storing vital nutritional supplies for malnourished children, pregnant women, and breastfeeding mothers. The destruction by Ard El Insan, a local humanitarian organization working with Medical Aid for Palestinians, is a significant blow to aid efforts amid severe food insecurity.
The destruction of essential nutritional supplies exacerbates the severe humanitarian crisis in Gaza, directly impacting the health and survival of malnourished children, pregnant women, and breastfeeding mothers who rely on this aid.
An Israeli military strike in central Gaza's Deir el-Balah has destroyed a warehouse containing vital nutritional supplies intended for malnourished children, pregnant women, and breastfeeding mothers. The explosion, which occurred overnight, caused significant structural damage to the warehouse, burying the entire stock of nutritional supplements under rubble and rendering it unfit for human consumption.
The warehouse belonged to Ard El Insan (AEI), a local humanitarian organization that partners with Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP) to support approximately 60 medical points. These facilities collectively serve up to 100 women and children daily.
Officials from both AEI and MAP described the loss as a major blow to their operations, severely impacting their ability to reach vulnerable populations already facing dire conditions due to prolonged hunger and food insecurity. Sahar Salem, AEI's project coordinator, emphasized that the loss affects essential services for children and women who cannot afford to wait for replacements.
Rowida Al-Sabbah, MAP's Nutrition Programme Lead, highlighted that the destruction goes beyond material loss, disrupting critical services. She noted that even with a ceasefire, conditions remain extremely challenging, and continuous support is urgently needed. AEI is currently assessing the possibility of redirecting supplies from other warehouses to maintain its nutrition services.
The incident occurs amid alarmingly high rates of malnutrition in Gaza, with a recent UNICEF report indicating significant stunting among children and severe anemia among pregnant women due to acute food insecurity.