The hospital director at the Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis, Gaza, Dr. Ahmed al-Farra, has sounded a dire warning about the fate of children in the region, stating that they are the most vulnerable group to the prevailing famine conditions. According to Dr. al-Farra, children cannot survive for long without food, emphasizing the gravity of the situation. The critical food shortages afflicting Gaza, largely caused by the Israeli blockade, have led to a significant increase in malnutrition cases, particularly among children.
The situation is alarming, with reports indicating that two babies have died from malnutrition in recent days. Hood Arafat, a week-old baby born in Gaza City, died due to malnutrition resulting from a lack of milk, while Zainab Ahmed Abu Haleeb, a six-month-old baby, also succumbed to malnutrition. These tragic incidents highlight the urgent need for aid to be allowed into the region. Dr. al-Farra warned that if border crossings are not immediately opened to permit the flow of aid, mass deaths will occur.
The United Nations experts have declared that famine has spread throughout the Gaza strip, citing the deaths of Palestinian children due to hunger and malnutrition as evidence. The experts stated that Israel’s intentional and targeted starvation campaign against the Palestinian people is a form of genocidal violence. The situation is further exacerbated by the restrictions on aid and commercial access, which have resulted in a significant surge in documented malnutrition cases. UN health officials have reported a 170% increase in malnutrition cases across Gaza, with a staggering 300% rise in the northern region.
Jeremy Konyndyk, from Refugees International, notes that the crisis has worsened due to Israeli government obstruction of aid, leading to a severe hunger crisis in Gaza. The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) report warned of imminent famine in mid-March, stating that 1.11 million people in Gaza were suffering from catastrophic food insecurity. The UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, described the situation as an “entirely man-made disaster” and called for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire.
The situation on the ground is dire, with many families resorting to extreme survival strategies, including consuming animal feed, local weeds, and grasses, and skipping meals to prioritize children’s nutrition. The lack of access to food, water, and fuel has halted food production, and the destruction of infrastructure, including hospitals and roads, has deepened the population’s dependency on aid. The UNRWA official emphasized the need for more aid crossing points into Gaza and a ceasefire to alleviate the suffering.
In light of these developments, it is imperative that the international community prioritizes the delivery of humanitarian aid and pressures Israel to end its siege and establish a ceasefire. The fate of the children in Gaza hangs in the balance, and immediate action is necessary to prevent further tragedy.