DaysofPla – Malnutrition in the Gaza Strip has reached “alarming levels,” according to a severe warning from the World Health Organization (WHO), which also notes a sharp increase in child and adult fatalities in July. The ongoing Israeli blockade of humanitarian aid is exacerbating the situation, which the WHO said was completely avoidable.
In a statement released Sunday, the organization revealed that out of 74 malnutrition-related deaths recorded in Gaza so far in 2025, 63 occurred in July alone. Among the victims were 24 children under the age of five and 38 adults.
“Most of these individuals were pronounced dead on arrival at health facilities or died shortly thereafter, showing clear signs of severe wasting,” the WHO said.
The agency underscored that the situation remains salvageable if immediate and sustained humanitarian access is granted. “Deliberate blocking and delay of large-scale food, health, and humanitarian aid has cost many lives,” the WHO posted on X. “The crisis remains entirely preventable.”
A senior official with the World Food Program also stressed the urgency of obtaining rapid Israeli approval to move aid trucks into Gaza, particularly in light of the newly declared humanitarian truce.
According to WHO data, the rate of acute malnutrition among children in Gaza City has tripled since June, making it the hardest-hit area in the Strip. Nearly one in five children under five in the city is now acutely malnourished, based on reports from humanitarian partners working with the UN Nutrition Cluster.
The WHO called for an immediate influx of diverse and nutritious food, therapeutic supplies for children, life-saving medicines, and essential health materials, emphasizing that this support must be “consistent and unhindered.”
“The current figures may underrepresent the true scale of the crisis,” the organization warned, citing severe access restrictions and insecurity that prevent many families from reaching health services.
Over the first two weeks of July alone, more than 5,000 children under five were treated for malnutrition in Gaza, with 18% suffering from severe acute malnutrition. That follows a record 6,500 malnourished children treated in June, the highest monthly figure since the war began in October 2023.
In July, 73 children were hospitalized with severe acute malnutrition and medical complications, nearly double the 39 recorded in June. This mounting caseload is placing growing pressure on the Strip’s already overstretched health infrastructure, which currently has only four malnutrition treatment centers.
On the other hand, Ross Smith, director of emergencies at the World Food Programme, said the program needed Israel’s swift approval for its trucks to move into Gaza.
“We don’t need words; we need action on the ground,” he added. “We need to get permits and approvals really quickly. If the truces are going to last 10 hours, we won’t be able to take advantage of these pauses.”
Israel’s policy of starvation against over two million Palestinians in the besieged Gaza Strip has drawn increasing international condemnation in recent days. The policy has caused widespread famine among the besieged population, with dozens of Palestinians dying within days.
Shortlink for this post: https://daysofpalestine.ps/?p=66134
