Over 8,000 children under the age of five in the Gaza Strip have received treatment for severe acute malnutrition, and 28 of them have died, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).
“A significant proportion of Gaza’s population is now facing catastrophic hunger and famine-like conditions” the head of WHO, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus mentioned during a press conference in Geneva on Wednesday, June 12.
Ghebreyesus stated, “Despite reports of increased delivery of food, there is currently no evidence that those who need it most are receiving sufficient quantity and quality of food.”
Given this dire situation, WHO and its partners have attempted to strengthen nutritional services in the Gaza Strip.
Over 8,000 children under five were diagnosed and received care for severe acute malnutrition, including 1,600 who suffered from its severe form, which is often associated with medical complications and is a significant cause of childhood morbidity and mortality.
However, due to insecurity and lack of access, only two stabilisation centres for severely malnourished patients are currently operational, explained the WHO’s Director-General.
He emphasised, “Our inability to safely deliver health services, coupled with the lack of safe water and sanitation, significantly heightens the risk of malnutrition among children.”
He further revealed that “There have been 32 deaths attributed to malnutrition, 28 of whom were children under five years of age.”
The head of WHO also drew attention to the worsening health crisis in the occupied West Bank, where they have recorded 480 attacks on healthcare providers since October 7, resulting in 16 deaths and 95 injuries.
Ghebreyesus asserted that in the West Bank, as in the Gaza Strip, the only solution is peace.
He declared that “The best medicine is peace.”
(information from amna.gr)
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