Children at risk as Gaza faces severe famine conditions

Gaza is facing a grave humanitarian crisis, with ongoing conflict leading to critical food shortages. As of July 2025, a staggering 320,000 children, representing the entire under-5 population in the region, are at serious risk of acute malnutrition. These alarming statistics highlight the urgency of the situation as reports indicate thousands of children suffering from severe acute malnutrition, which is the deadliest form of undernutrition. The situation has deteriorated to such an extent that many children are being admitted to health facilities at alarming rates, exemplified by 5,000 admissions in just the first two weeks of the month. The humanitarian response is severely hampered by the ongoing instability and destruction of health services. Less than 15 percent of essential nutrition treatment services are operational, leaving infants and young children highly vulnerable to malnutrition-related deaths. Experts stress that the lack of immediate, safe, and unimpeded access for humanitarian efforts is exacerbating the dire outcomes. Amidst calls for increased assistance, UNICEF has noted that food and nutrition provided are only a fraction of what is necessary, and calls for the restoration of commercial food imports have become an urgent priority. The pressing need for dietary diversity, including fresh fruits, vegetables, dairy, and protein sources, has never been more critical. The situation in Gaza illustrates a larger pattern of desperation and suffering among the population, where ordinary citizens are caught in the crossfire of escalated violence and conflict. The first key famine indicator—food consumption—has drastically fallen, with nearly 39 percent of the population going days without food. This hunger crisis, combined with deteriorating health infrastructure, makes it exceedingly difficult to track the full impact of malnutrition, as many health facilities have been decimated, leading to increased malnutrition cases and starvation-related deaths. International agencies continue to advocate for a coordinated humanitarian response. UNICEF’s efforts, supported by various donors, face significant challenges as stockpiles of therapeutic treatments for malnutrition have run critically low. The cycle of malnutrition and disease is particularly dangerous in children, who are more susceptible to illnesses that further exacerbate poor nutritional status. With a lack of essential services in the area, health risks surge significantly, and the window for effective humanitarian intervention is rapidly closing. Immediate and sustained humanitarian access is essential to alleviate the malnutrition crisis in Gaza and to preserve the lives of its youngest citizens.