DayofPal– Hundreds of children in Gaza are facing death due to the complete depletion of infant formula, particularly life-saving therapeutic milk.
Dr. Ahmad Al-Farra, head of the Pediatrics and Neonatology Department at Nasser Medical Complex in southern Gaza, has sounded the alarm over a worsening health crisis threatening the lives of children due to the lack of therapeutic milk.
He told Shehab News Agency that hospitals in Gaza have not received any supplies of infant formula for nearly four months.
He also warned that approximately 500 children suffering from rare metabolic disorders urgently require specialized therapeutic milk. Without it, he said, the consequences could be catastrophic, including irreversible brain damage, cerebral palsy, and even death.
Dr. Al-Farra noted that the pediatric ward at Nasser Medical Complex receives around 10 cases of malnutrition daily. However, due to a severe shortage of hospital beds, many of these children cannot be admitted for extended care.
He reported that approximately 60 children have already died due to complications related to malnutrition.
Malnutrition in Gaza’s children typically appears in three forms, Dr. Al-Farra explained: Marasmus, caused by a severe calorie deficiency, resulting in children losing up to 40% of their body weight; Kwashiorkor, due to extreme protein deficiency, leading to swelling throughout the body; Mixed cases, the most dangerous, combining both conditions and resulting in weakened immunity, recurrent infections, vitamin deficiencies, and significant developmental delays.
According to Dr. Al-Farra, the crisis begins even before birth. Many expectant mothers in Gaza suffer from malnutrition and food insecurity, leading to premature births, low birth weight, or congenital deformities.
After birth, these infants are often admitted to neonatal units due to general weakness or illness, placing additional pressure on Gaza’s collapsing healthcare system.
The pediatric chief stressed the critical importance of the first six months of a child’s life, emphasizing that the absence of infant formula, alongside insufficient maternal nutrition, prevents healthy weight gain and neurological development.
“A child deprived of essential nutrients during this period will not develop cognitively, even if proper nutrition becomes available later,” he warned.
Children between the ages of one and three are also at high risk for permanent cognitive impairment, he added. “Later supplementation with vitamins cannot reverse the damage already done,” Dr. Al-Farra stated.
He also disclosed that local charitable organizations were only able to secure around 50 cans of infant formula, found on the black market at exorbitant prices of up to 150 shekels per can, compared to the normal price of 25 shekels.
Dr. Al-Farra issued an urgent appeal to international humanitarian and health organizations to intervene immediately and provide essential nutritional supplies to save the lives of Gaza’s most vulnerable children.
“This is not just a health issue; it’s a humanitarian emergency,” he concluded.
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