Severe Malnutrition in Gaza City Triples Amid Growing Crisis

The humanitarian crisis in Gaza City has escalated dramatically, with the medical charity Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) reporting a threefold increase in severe malnutrition among children under five within just two weeks. This alarming trend coincides with worsening starvation conditions in the Israeli-besieged territory. As daily deaths from starvation are reported, the global aid community has sounded urgent warnings about the deepening crisis.

MSF disclosed that approximately a quarter of all young children, along with pregnant or breastfeeding women screened at its clinics last week, were malnourished. The number of individuals seeking care for malnutrition at MSF’s Gaza City facility has quadrupled since May. As one of the largest medical providers in Gaza, MSF employs over 1,000 staff who deliver a range of medical services, from maternity care to emergency surgeries.

The charity has accused Israeli authorities of implementing a “policy of starvation,” which they assert has led to unprecedented hunger levels. Over 122 people have succumbed to starvation, with nine reported fatalities occurring within the last 24 hours, according to local health authorities. The World Food Programme has indicated that nearly one-third of Gazans are going days without food, characterizing the hunger crisis as reaching “new and astonishing levels of desperation.”

“Nearly one person in three is not eating for days. Malnutrition is surging, with 90,000 women and children in urgent need of treatment,” the WFP stated.

Dr. Naji al-Qurashali, an obstetrician-gynaecologist, revealed that his estimates suggest that around 50% of the hundreds of pregnant women he sees daily are suffering from malnutrition. “The malnutrition situation is unimaginable. Throughout my entire medical career, I never expected, not even in my wildest dreams, that things would reach this level,” he remarked. The situation has resulted in a significant rise in miscarriages, while those babies that reach term are often underweight and increasingly born prematurely or with birth defects.

Dr. Qurashali also pointed out the severe lack of medical supplies necessary for treating malnourished patients. He described the experience of being unable to meet even the most basic needs of these women as profoundly painful. “As a helpless doctor, it is an incredibly painful feeling. Many times, I leave the hospital running because I can’t bear the fact that I can’t meet even the simplest needs of these women,” he said.

Medical experts have emphasized that society’s most vulnerable populations, particularly children and pregnant women, are the first casualties in mass hunger crises.

The Israeli government has denied responsibility for the hunger crisis, with the Israeli foreign ministry labeling it a “deliberate foreign ploy to defame Israel,” while blaming the United Nations for its failure to distribute aid effectively. The UN has stated it is operating under severe restrictions imposed by Israel, which has limited the UN-led aid system’s ability to utilize its previous 400 aid distribution points throughout the strip.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres criticized the international community for not addressing the humanitarian disaster, describing the situation as a “moral crisis” that challenges global conscience. He said, “This is not just a humanitarian crisis. It is a moral crisis that challenges the global conscience. We will continue to speak out at every opportunity.”

In a joint statement, the leaders of the UK, France, and Germany called for an immediate end to the “humanitarian catastrophe” in Gaza and urged the Israeli government to lift restrictions on aid. French President Emmanuel Macron announced plans to recognize a Palestinian state at the upcoming UN General Assembly, while UK Prime Minister Kier Starmer faces mounting pressure from MPs to follow suit.

Macron’s recognition of Palestine was dismissed by US President Donald Trump, who, upon arriving in Scotland to meet Starmer, claimed, “What he says doesn’t matter. It’s not going to change anything.”

Amid the escalating humanitarian crisis, ceasefire negotiations appear to have collapsed. Talks in Qatar, involving Israel and the United States, were halted, with Trump accusing Hamas of being unwilling to negotiate. Hamas officials denied these claims and instead accused Israel of stalling the peace process.

On the ground, the situation remains dire. Many residents struggle to access food, with reports indicating that over 1,000 individuals have lost their lives while attempting to secure food at distribution sites. Ismail al-Thawabta, director of the Hamas-run Gaza government media office, criticized the recent allowances for foreign aid drops as mere political theatrics, emphasizing the need for a continuous humanitarian corridor to facilitate aid delivery.

As the humanitarian emergency deepens, the plight of civilians, particularly pregnant women like Amal Masri, becomes increasingly desperate. “Most of the time I am completely exhausted, my blood pressure is very low, and I often feel like I’m suffocating, like I’m on the verge of death,” she shared, highlighting the urgent need for a resolution to the ongoing crisis.

The international community’s response to the deteriorating conditions in Gaza remains crucial, as the humanitarian situation continues to unfold under the shadow of conflict and political strife.