The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued a warning that tens of thousands of children in Gaza are suffering from severe malnutrition.
This concerning revelation was reported by the Palestinian news agency “Wafa,” citing recent findings.
According to the WHO, about 15,000 children in Gaza have been identified as suffering from acute malnutrition after a screening of approximately 240,000 children since the beginning of the year. Among these, 3,288 children are facing severe malnutrition conditions.
The WHO supports four facilities that specialize in treating malnutrition, including a centre located in Kamal Adwan Hospital in Beit Lahia, a northern town in the Gaza Strip.
A medical source from Kamal Adwan Hospital disclosed to “Wafa” that about 5,000 children have been examined, with a third displaying symptoms of malnutrition.
Alarmingly, 25% of these cases have not undergone intensive treatment due to being categorized as malnutrition with complications.
The source ominously noted, “The influx of cases with their complications means that these are steps before death.”
Since October 7 last year, Israel has been engaged in a devastating war on Gaza, resulting in over 40,000 Palestinian deaths, mostly children and women, with more than 10,000 reported missing.
Efforts led by Egypt, Qatar, and the United States have been ongoing for months, attempting to negotiate an end to the conflict and facilitate a prisoner exchange.
However, negotiations have yet to yield any results, primarily due to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s insistence on controlling the Philadelphia Corridor along the Gaza-Egypt border, the Rafah border crossing, and the inspection of Palestinians returning to northern Gaza through the Netzarim passage.
Meanwhile, Hamas demands a complete Israeli withdrawal from the Strip and a total cessation of hostilities before any agreement can be accepted.
