The Gaza Strip’s health authorities have warned that approximately 60,000 children are facing severe malnutrition due to Israel’s ongoing closure of border crossings, which has blocked the entry of food, humanitarian aid, and medical supplies.
This prolonged blockade has severely restricted access to essential nutrition and healthcare, putting children’s health at greater risk, with 1 in 6 children under 2 years old in northern Gaza suffering from acute malnutrition.
The lack of adequate food, clean water, and vaccinations, particularly for poliovirus, could worsen the already deteriorating public health conditions in the area.
All crossings into Gaza have been closed to humanitarian and commercial shipments since March 2, marking the longest continuous closure since the escalation of hostilities between Israel and Hamas in October 2023.
The situation is dire, with 90% of children under 5 experiencing severe food poverty and 70% suffering from diarrhea, a 23-fold increase compared to 2022.
UNICEF and other humanitarian organizations are calling for safe, unimpeded, and sustained access to deliver multi-sectoral humanitarian assistance throughout the Gaza Strip.