Children in Gaza are reportedly going hungry, a condemnation that has been issued by UNICEF.
In the Gaza Strip, a humanitarian crisis is unfolding as children face severe malnutrition, with the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) reporting starvation among the young population.
The ongoing conflict and near-total blockade have created catastrophic living conditions and severe food insecurity, leading to a surge in malnutrition rates. According to UNICEF, the Israeli blockade since March 2025 has exacerbated the situation, with children dying from severe acute malnutrition due to lack of sufficient food and medical supplies.
Dangerous conditions around food and water distribution sites have resulted in deaths and injuries among children and civilians seeking nourishment. The conflict and blockade have led to an increase in severe acute malnutrition, with UNICEF reporting a doubling of acute malnutrition in some areas and thousands of children diagnosed with malnutrition in recent months.
UNICEF is calling for urgent action, emphasizing the need for safe, unrestricted humanitarian access to deliver food, medicine, and essential supplies to Gaza. The agency is also advocating for a review and change in rules of engagement to protect children and civilians at humanitarian distribution points from attacks, as these incidents worsen access to life-saving aid.
In addition, UNICEF is mobilizing emergency resources to provide immediate nutrition and medical support to malnourished children. The organisation is also calling on the international community and parties involved in the conflict to uphold international humanitarian law, especially regarding the protection of children.
UNICEF Germany has issued a statement saying that severe malnutrition in children is spreading faster than aid can reach them in the Gaza Strip. The United Nations is monitoring the developing situation closely, and live updates can be found in a liveblog.
In summary, the malnutrition crisis in Gaza is primarily driven by conflict-related blockades and violence restricting access to food and aid. UNICEF emphasizes improving humanitarian access, protecting civilians, and scaling up nutrition and health assistance as the key solutions to address this emergency.
Other organizations in the health-and-wellness sector have joined UNICEF's efforts, focusing on providing nutrition services to address the root causes of the malnutrition crisis in Gaza.
In light of the urgent need for nutrition interventions, science plays a critical role in developing effective strategies to combat the spread of severe malnutrition among children in Gaza.
