Acute food shortages in Gaza put all children under five at risk of severe malnutrition, says UNICEF

New York (QNN) – The UNICEF has warned that the acute food insecurity situation places all children under the age of five in the Gaza Strip—amounting to 335,000 children—at a heightened risk of severe malnutrition and avoidable death.

In a press statement, UNICEF quoted a report by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) which prints a grim picture about the escalating risk of famine in the Gaza Strip, which worsens daily if the circumstances persist.

According to UNICEF, the IPC report highlights that at least one in four households in Gaza, equivalent to over half a million people, are confronted with catastrophic levels of acute food insecurity—the highest warning level.

UNICEF emphasized that these entirely human-made and foreseeable catastrophic conditions expose children and families in the Gaza Strip to violence from the Israeli airstrikes and deprivation from the ground, with potentially graver consequences on the horizon.

The report indicates that nearly 1.2 million people are grappling with emergency levels of acute food insecurity, surpassing famine thresholds. In essence, this means that, for many families in Gaza, the actual threat of death from hunger is already a stark reality.

As Israel continues to ban humanitarian aid into Gaza, over 2 million Palestinians have been facing starvation.

This girl is hoping to find some leftovers. pic.twitter.com/Q6gQXu8wKm

— Quds News Network (@QudsNen) December 22, 2023

These findings imply that every child under the age of five in the Gaza Strip, totaling 335,000, faces a significant risk of severe malnutrition and preventable death, given the escalating risk of famine conditions. UNICEF estimates that in the upcoming weeks, at least 10,000 children under the age of five will experience the most life-threatening form of malnutrition, known as severe wasting, and will require therapeutic foods.

UNICEF underscored that this unacceptable risk occurs when the Gaza Strip’s food and health systems are on the verge of complete collapse. More than 80 percent of young children are experiencing severe food poverty, and over two-thirds of hospitals are non-functional due to fuel and water shortages, a lack of vital medical supplies, or catastrophic damage sustained in attacks.

Pregnant and breastfeeding women are also at risk

UNICEF expressed particular concern about the nutrition of over 155,000 pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers, as well as more than 135,000 children under the age of two, considering their specific nutritional needs compounded by stress and trauma.

Despite the dire situation outlined in the IPC report, UNICEF asserted that these conditions do not have to persist. The warning of an impending famine in the coming weeks and months can still be averted with immediate action.

UNICEF called for an urgent and sustained humanitarian ceasefire, enabling support for the restoration and strengthening of essential services across the Gaza Strip. This includes providing infant milk, food, nutrient supplements, ready-to-use therapeutic foods for early prevention, detection, and treatment of severe malnutrition, as well as ensuring the supply of water, medical resources, fuel, and resumption of commercial traffic.

UNICEF stressed the need for the restoration of critical infrastructure, including hospitals, to ensure that young children, pregnant women, and injured patients can safely access life-saving treatment and care.