DayofPal– A mounting humanitarian crisis in Gaza has left hundreds of infants at risk of death due to a severe shortage of baby formula, with doctors warning that supplies may run out within days.
As the Israeli blockade continues to restrict aid deliveries, medical professionals and desperate mothers say they are witnessing the rapid deterioration of children’s health, especially among the most vulnerable.
Dr Ahmad Al-Farra, head of paediatrics at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, described the situation as “catastrophic.” His ward, already out of specialized formula for premature infants, is rationing the remaining supply of standard infant formula.
“I can’t begin to describe how bad things are. Right now, we have enough formula for about one week. But we also have infants outside the hospital without any access to milk. It’s catastrophic,” Al-Farra told The Guardian by phone.
With widespread food insecurity and maternal malnutrition reaching extreme levels, many mothers are unable to breastfeed, increasing dependence on formula that is no longer readily available.
Aid shipments via the U.S.- and Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) have reportedly excluded infant formula altogether, further worsening the crisis.
Hanaa Al-Taweel, a 27-year-old mother of five living in al-Nuseirat refugee camp, said her 13-month-old child is already suffering from malnutrition-related stunting.
“The problem of getting milk started since my son’s birth, as due to my malnutrition and general weakness I wasn’t able to breastfeed my baby,” she said.
Her son is developing more slowly than her older children, who had begun walking and speaking by his age.
“I try to keep a small piece of bread next to me when he sleeps because he wakes up often asking for food,” she added. “I feel sadness and fear for my children, I fear they will die from hunger, thirst and disease.”
Since the start of the war in October 2023, at least 66 Palestinian children have died of starvation, according to local health officials.
Amnesty International has accused Israel of using starvation as a weapon of war against civilians in Gaza, saying this is part of a campaign to “inflict genocide against Palestinians.”
Foreign doctors and aid workers say many resort to smuggling small quantities of infant formula in their luggage. In one case, Israeli border authorities confiscated 10 cans of preterm infant formula from the bag of an American doctor attempting to enter Gaza.
“In the end they confiscated all the cans of baby formula, which was specifically formula for pre-term babies. What on earth is baby formula going to do against the security of the state of Israel?” asked Dr Diana Nazzal, a Palestinian-German eye surgeon who helped pack the supplies.
Many medical professionals are now prioritizing calorie-dense food like protein bars and nuts over traditional medical equipment when entering the strip. “Infant formula has become more critical as the hunger crisis has worsened,” said Dr Nazzal.
With nearly 500,000 people in Gaza now facing catastrophic levels of hunger, according to UN reports, the supply of infant formula on the black market has become both rare and exorbitantly priced. A single can now sells for approximately $50, ten times its regular price.
Nourhan Barakat, a 25-year-old mother of three displaced to Khan Younis, said she was able to breastfeed her baby for only a month due to food shortages.
“I know that breastfeeding strengthens the bond between mother and child – but what can I do?” she said.
In late June, World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus reported that about 112 children are being admitted to hospitals daily for malnutrition.
Experts warn that malnutrition in early childhood can lead to permanent cognitive and physical development issues.
“This whole generation is being targeted. They will suffer from memory problems, developmental delays,” said Dr Al-Farra. “And the problem is even if nutrition becomes available later on, the damage is permanent.”
“You should see the children arriving,” said Dr Al-Farra. “They’re just skin and bones. It’s horrifying. The real solution is to end the war, open the crossings and allow baby formula in.”
Shortlink for this post: https://daysofpalestine.ps/?p=65460
