The alarming rise in severe malnutrition among children under the age of five in Gaza is a critical issue. Since February, the United Nations has reported a significant increase in cases, with over 2,700 children diagnosed with acute malnutrition in the second half of May alone. This represents a nearly threefold increase compared to the previous month, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
The data highlights that nearly 6% of the 47,000 under-fives screened in May were suffering from acute malnutrition, a condition that has more than doubled the number of children needing hospitalization in recent months. The Nutrition Cluster has recorded over 16,500 children in Gaza treated for severe acute malnutrition since January, including 141 who have required hospitalization due to complications.
Despite the growing need for medical intervention, the resources are severely limited. Only four stabilization centers for treating severe acute malnutrition with medical complications exist in the Gaza Strip. However, operations in North Gaza and Rafah have been suspended, effectively cutting off lifesaving treatment for children in these areas.
This crisis unfolds against a backdrop of widespread starvation across Gaza, with the World Health Organization (WHO) alerting that the health system in the region is on the brink of collapse. The WHO has urgently called for the protection of the last remaining hospitals, Nasser Medical Complex and Al-Amal Hospital, which are at risk of becoming non-functional due to ongoing hostilities and systematic attacks on medical facilities and workers.
These actions, including the deliberate targeting of healthcare infrastructure and personnel by Israeli forces, aim to make life in the Gaza Strip unbearable for the Palestinian population. This has resulted in a severe healthcare crisis, leaving numerous patients without access to refuge or care.
The international community’s response to these dire conditions and the ongoing violations of medical neutrality is crucial to preventing further loss of life and to ensuring the continued functionality of healthcare facilities in the Gaza Strip.
Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/6/6/un-warns-of-surge-in-acute-malnutrition-among-gazas-young-children?traffic_source=rss
