UNRWA reports 300% surge in child malnutrition in northern Gaza

The UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) announced today that cases of malnutrition among children in northern Gaza surged by over 300 per cent in July compared to May.

Citing data from the Global Nutrition Cluster and the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), the agency highlighted that 96 per cent of Gaza’s population is suffering critical levels of hunger.

Detected malnutrition cases among children in northern Gaza increased by more than 300% in July compared with May, says @GNCGENEVA.

96% of Gaza’s population faces crisis levels of hunger, according to @theIPCinfo. Gaza needs more aid and a #CeasefireNow pic.twitter.com/Pc382sW7Wr

— UNRWA (@UNRWA) August 8, 2024

As of 22 June, at least 34 children have died of malnutrition in Gaza, according to the Government Media Office. However rights groups have warned this number does not reflect the actual number of children who have died as a result of the “man-made famine” in the Strip, as many would have been unable to be brought into hospital as a result of the lack of infrastructure, high costs of travel and relentless bombing.

UNRWA reports 300% surge in child malnutrition in northern Gaza

UNRWA’s warning comes a week after the UN body reported an outbreak of hepatitis across the Gaza Strip amid relentless Israeli attacks on the enclave. UNRWA said on 30 July that nearly 40,000 cases of hepatitis have been recorded in Gaza since the start of the Israeli war on 7 October last year.

Children in Gaza witness ‘unspeakable atrocities’ amid Israel war: UN official

“Eight hundred to 1,000 new hepatitis cases are reported weekly from UNRWA health centres and shelters across Gaza,” said the UN agency. “Desperate sanitary conditions facilitate the spread of diseases including Hepatitis A.”

UNRWA today appealed to the international community to boost aid to the enclave, which remains under Israeli blockade, and called for an immediate ceasefire to address the worsening humanitarian crisis.

Over the last ten months, Israel has devastated Gaza and left vast tracts of the enclave in ruins amid a crippling blockade of food, clean water and medicine.

Israel stands accused of genocide at the International Court of Justice (ICJ).