Doctors in Gaza have expressed alarm over the critical shortage of baby milk, warning that hundreds of babies are at risk of death. The humanitarian aid that can enter the area is restrictive as Israel continues to limit the flow of supplies into the besieged strip.
Dr Ahmad al-Farra, the head of paediatrics at Nasser hospital in Khan Younis, stated that his ward only has about a week’s worth of infant formula remaining. He has already run out of specialized formula for premature babies and is now forced to use regular formula, rationing it between the infants under his care. He described the situation as catastrophic, with infants outside the hospital having no access to milk.
The shortage of infant formula in Gaza has been exacerbated by the blocking of almost all humanitarian aid by Israel. Food aid coming through the US-Israeli-backed private company Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) does not include infant formula, according to doctors. This has resulted in stocks of infant formula dwindling in Gaza.
Hanaa al-Taweel, a 27-year-old mother of five living in al-Nuseirat refugee camp, shared her struggle to provide milk for her 13-month-old child. Due to malnutrition and general weakness, she was unable to breastfeed and has faced difficulty in finding infant formula.
Doctors have told al-Taweel that her son is suffering from stunting due to malnutrition, and she has noticed that he is developing slower than her other children. She expressed sadness and fear for her children, fearing that they may die from hunger, thirst, and disease. Since October 2023, 66 Palestinian children have already starved to death, according to local health authorities.
Amnesty International has accused Israel of using starvation as a weapon of war against civilians in Gaza, stating that it is a tactic intended to inflict genocide on Palestinians. Cogat, the Israeli authority responsible for coordinating humanitarian aid in the Gaza Strip, denied any restriction on the entry of baby food, including formula. They added that over 1,400 tons of baby food have been delivered to Gaza in recent weeks.
Doctors have taken to packing individual cans of infant formula in their personal luggage when entering Gaza. On one occasion, Israeli authorities confiscated 10 cans of infant formula from the luggage of an American doctor entering Gaza for a medical mission. Dr. Diana Nazzal, a Palestinian-German eye surgeon, expressed disbelief at the confiscation, questioning what harm baby formula could cause to the security of Israel.
Infant formula has become even more critical as the hunger crisis worsens in Gaza, with almost 500,000 people facing catastrophic hunger and the rest of the population experiencing acute food insecurity. Malnutrition before the age of three can cause permanent developmental problems, and doctors warned that the deaths of infants signal a looming starvation crisis.
Doctors have blamed the Israeli aid blockade for the shortage, as only a few aid trucks are allowed to enter the territory, far below what is required to feed the population. UN agencies have stated that Gaza needs at least 500 trucks a day to meet basic needs, but often less than 50 are admitted.
Humanitarian groups have condemned the GHF, accusing it of complicity in war crimes and violating principles of humanitarianism. The UN-led aid system in Gaza previously maintained over 400 aid distribution points throughout the territory, but the GHF said other organizations “stand by helplessly as their aid is looted.”
Israel has accused the UN system of being exploited by Hamas to hoard aid, an accusation for which humanitarians claim there is no evidence. The war in Gaza has resulted in over 56,000 deaths since October 7, 2023, and was launched in retaliation for a Hamas-led attack on the same day that killed 1,200 people in Israel. Israel and Hamas have indicated progress towards a ceasefire, but key sticking points remain.
Doctors in the territory emphasized the urgency of the situation, urging for the war to end, crossings to be opened, and baby formula to be allowed into Gaza.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jul/05/theyre-skin-and-bones-doctors-in-gaza-warn-babies-at-risk-of-death-from-lack-of-formula
