Dual threat for Gazan children soars as Israeli bombs spur hunger
Amid Israeli bombardments, hunger silently claims lives in Gaza, with children bearing the brunt, as malnutrition reaches dire levels and aid struggles to reach those in need
bombardments in war-torn Gaza are not the only threat to children’s lives; now, some are also succumbing to hunger.
Officials have long warned of the looming famine in this Palestinian territory, which has endured relentless Israeli attacks, offensives and a siege for the past five months.
Northern Gaza, in particular, faces severe hunger due to isolation by Israeli forces and prolonged cutoffs of food supplies.
The Health Ministry reported that at least 20 people, mostly children and a 72-year-old man, have died from malnutrition and dehydration at Kamal Adwan and Shifa hospitals in the north.
In the south, where access to aid is more consistent, vulnerable children are also beginning to fall victim to malnutrition.
Sixteen premature babies have died from malnutrition-related causes at Emirati Hospital in Rafah over the past five weeks, according to a senior doctor.
Adele Khodr, UNICEF’s Middle East chief, expressed concern, stating, “The child deaths we feared are here.”
Malnutrition, a slow killer, disproportionately affects children and the elderly.
Underfed mothers often struggle to breastfeed their infants.
Diarrheal diseases, prevalent in Gaza due to poor water and sanitation, further exacerbate malnutrition by hindering calorie absorption.
Anuradha Narayan, a UNICEF child nutrition expert, highlighted how malnutrition weakens immune systems, making individuals more susceptible to other diseases.
Following Hamas’ attack on southern Israel, Israel severely restricted the entry of food, water, medicine, and other supplies into Gaza, allowing only minimal aid through two southern crossings.
Israel has blamed the burgeoning hunger in Gaza on U.N. agencies, saying they failed to distribute supplies piling up at Gaza crossings.
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), the largest U.N. agency in Gaza, says Israel restricts some goods and imposes cumbersome inspections that slow entry.
Also, distribution within Gaza has been crippled. U.N. officials say convoys are regularly turned back by Israeli forces, the military often refuses safe passage amid fighting, and aid is snatched off trucks by hungry Palestinians en route to drop-off points.
With alarm growing, Israel bent to U.S. and international pressure, saying this week it will open crossings for aid directly into northern Gaza and allow sea shipments.
Conditions in the north, largely under Israeli control for months, have become desperate. Entire districts of Gaza City and surrounding areas have been reduced to rubble by Israeli forces. Still, hundreds of thousands of Palestinians remain.
Meat, milk, vegetables and fruit are nearly impossible to find, according to several residents who spoke to The Associated Press (AP).
The few items in shops are random and sold at hugely inflated prices – mainly nuts, snacks and spices.
People have taken barrels of chocolate from bakeries and are selling tiny smears of it.
In northern Gaza, many people, like 70-year-old Fatima Shaheen, rely on a weed called “khubaiza” as their main source of food, boiling it to make a meal.
Desperate for sustenance, Shaheen’s family even grinds up food intended for rabbits to use as flour.
Qamar Ahmed shared a similar struggle, as his 18-month-old daughter, Mira, is forced to eat boiled weeds since there is no suitable food for her age.
Ahmed, a researcher and economic journalist, revealed that his 70-year-old father sacrifices his own food to feed Ahmed’s young son, Oleyan, who often refuses to eat.
Dr. Husam Abu Safiya, acting head of Kamal Adwan Hospital, revealed that the hospital currently treats 300 to 400 malnourished children daily, illustrating the severity of the crisis.
Despite recent airdrops of aid by the U.S. and other countries, the amounts provided are insufficient compared to truck deliveries, which have become rare and dangerous due to escalating tensions. UNRWA has been unable to deliver supplies to the north since January 23, further exacerbating the dire situation.
The World Food Organization, having paused deliveries due to safety concerns, was forced to turn back its first convoy to the north in two weeks on Tuesday, demonstrating the challenges faced in delivering aid to those in need.
In a tragic incident, when the Israeli military organized a food delivery to Gaza City, troops guarding the convoy opened fire on perceived threats as hungry Palestinians rushed the trucks. This resulted in the deaths of around 120 people, including some who were trampled in the chaos, highlighting the desperation and urgency of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Yazan al-Kafarna, a 10-year-old boy from Gaza, tragically passed away after a week of unsuccessful treatment in Rafah.
Born with cerebral palsy, he struggled to find suitable food after his family fled their home.
His death, attributed to severe malnutrition, highlights the dire situation in Gaza, where many children are suffering.
Aya al-Fayoume, a young mother, shared her struggles to feed her 3-monthold daughter, Nisreen, due to limited and expensive food options.
The lack of fresh food in Rafah, coupled with a population influx from displacement, has exacerbated the crisis, with canned goods being the primary sustenance for many.
Dr. Ahmed al-Shair noted that malnutrition among mothers is leading to an increase in premature and underweight births, further compounding the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.