One in 5 children in Gaza City malnourished: UN aid agency
the UN's Palestinian refugee agency (Unrwa) said.
In a statement issued today, Unrwa Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini cited a colleague telling him:
"People in Gaza are neither dead nor alive, they are walking corpses."
More than 100 international aid organisations and human rights groups have also warned of mass starvation -
pressing for governments to take action, reports BBC News.
On other hand, Israel, which controls the entry of all supplies into Gaza, refuted the claim of a siege in the
territory and instead, blamed Hamas for any cases of malnutrition.
The UN, however, has warned that the level of aid getting into Gaza is "a trickle" and the hunger crisis in the
territory "has never been so dire".
In his statement, Lazzarini further said, "more than 100 people, the vast majority of them children, have
reportedly died of hunger".
On Wednesday, the World Health Organisation (WHO) had said that a large proportion of the population of
Gaza was "starving".
"I don't know what you would call it other than mass starvation - and it's man-made," remarked the head of
the WHO, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
In northern parts of Gaza, Israel stopped aid deliveries to Gaza in early March following a two-month ceasefire. The blockade was partially eased after nearly two months, but food, fuel and medicine shortages worsened.Hanaa Almadhoun (40), maintained that local markets are often without food and other supplies.
The blockade was partially eased after nearly two months, but food, fuel and medicine shortages worsened.
According to the UN human rights office, more than 1,000 Palestinians have been killed by the Israeli military
while trying to get food aid over the past two months.
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News18
an hour ago
- News18
Mass Starvation In Gaza: How The War Is Breeding A Humanitarian Time Bomb
Last Updated: As of July, around 1.4 million Gazans are facing food emergency. Over 90% of children under five are facing food insecurity, while 30% are malnourished In the fog of war, it is easy for numbers to blur into headlines and disappear into political debates. But in Gaza, one figure now stands apart — over 1 million people are on the brink of starvation. This year, amidst relentless bombardments, aid blockades, and institutional collapse, mass starvation has emerged as the most devastating and silent weapon of this war. This is not just a humanitarian crisis. It is a generational catastrophe — one that could scar Palestinian children and families for decades to come. As international agencies issue warnings of famine and malnutrition deepens across every demographic, Gaza is increasingly being described not just as a warzone, but as a hunger trap. What Do The Numbers Say? According to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) released in July 2025, around 1.4 million Gazans are now in IPC Phase 4 or 5 — meaning they are facing emergency or catastrophic levels of food insecurity. Of that number, nearly 495,000 people are in IPC Phase 5 — facing famine-like conditions, with death from hunger and disease now an immediate threat. Children are paying the highest price. UNICEF reports that more than 90% of children under five in northern Gaza are suffering from acute food insecurity, with at least 30% acutely malnourished. Clinics in Rafah and Deir al-Balah report severely underweight infants being brought in daily, many unable to even cry — too weak to protest their own hunger. These are not just abstract statistics. In March 2025, Yazan al-Kafarneh, a 10-year-old boy from Beit Hanoun, died from malnutrition—his emaciated body a grim emblem of Gaza's silent war. He was one of dozens of children confirmed to have died of hunger this year alone. By July, local health authorities estimated over 875 people, including at least 178 children, had succumbed to starvation or related complications. How Did This Happen? Starvation in Gaza is not accidental — it is the direct result of war policies that have devastated infrastructure, agriculture, and supply chains. Since the Israel-Hamas conflict reignited in October 2023, and particularly after the ground invasion in early 2024, Gaza's economy, farmland, and food distribution systems have been systematically destroyed. UN agencies report that: More than 70% of Gaza's farmland is now unusable due to bombardment, bulldozing, or contamination. All 11 flour mills and most bakeries have been damaged or shuttered due to lack of fuel, wheat, or equipment. Electricity and water networks have collapsed, rendering food storage and preparation impossible in many areas. Nearly 90% of Gaza's population (over 2 million people) have been displaced, pushing food access to the brink. Moreover, the near-total blockade on humanitarian aid, especially after the closure of the Rafah and Kerem Shalom crossings in early 2025, has made it nearly impossible to get basic food and medical supplies into Gaza. Where once 500-600 trucks entered daily, current figures show just 50-70 aid trucks are permitted per day, a fraction of what is needed. Israel claims that aid is being restricted to prevent supplies from reaching Hamas fighters. But aid groups argue that the policies are indiscriminate and disproportionate, amounting to collective punishment of civilians. A Deliberate Famine? The question increasingly being asked in international circles is: Is this a war crime in motion? Michael Fakhri, the UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food, has described the situation as a 'state-led starvation campaign." He argues that Gaza is witnessing one of the fastest descents into famine in modern history, not due to natural disaster or agricultural collapse, but because food is being 'systematically denied." The UN Human Rights Council and major NGOs like Oxfam and Médecins Sans Frontières have echoed these concerns, calling for independent investigations into whether Israel's tactics violate international humanitarian law. While famine has yet to be officially declared—due in part to limited data collection in conflict zones—the signs are unmistakable. What It Means For Gaza's Children Beyond immediate mortality, the long-term effects of this mass starvation could devastate an entire generation. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), children suffering from severe acute malnutrition in their early years face lifelong cognitive delays, stunted growth, weakened immunity, and higher risks of chronic disease. For pregnant women, malnutrition leads to miscarriages, stillbirths, and developmental complications in newborns. Gaza's education system, already fragile, is now nearly non-functional. Over 80% of schools have been destroyed or repurposed into shelters, and many teachers have fled or been killed. Nearly 600,000 students are out of school — and those who remain struggle to learn while hungry. Without adequate nutrition, healthcare, or education, Gaza's next generation faces not just a future of uncertainty, but one of systemic disadvantage. Even if the war ended tomorrow, rebuilding minds and bodies would take years, possibly decades. Can The Situation Be Reversed? In theory, yes. Famine is not inevitable — it is preventable. But doing so requires urgent political will and coordinated global action. Key steps include: Opening Humanitarian Corridors: Allowing full access to Gaza through multiple border crossings, not just for food but for fuel, water, medical supplies, and sanitation equipment. Rebuilding Infrastructure: Restoration of bakeries, mills, hospitals, and storage facilities must be prioritized to resume basic services. Unconditional Food Delivery: Aid must reach all parts of Gaza, including northern regions currently cut off from supplies. Medical Support: Emergency nutrition clinics for children and mothers must be scaled up dramatically, along with vaccination drives and trauma counseling. Ceasefire and Stability: Without security guarantees, aid workers and civilians remain at constant risk. Some international agencies are stepping up. The World Food Programme has appealed for $400 million in urgent funding. UNICEF has deployed emergency nutrition teams to the south. But these efforts are insufficient without guaranteed, safe access. The Cost Of Inaction Allowing this crisis to deepen not only violates moral obligations, it creates long-term geopolitical risks. Mass starvation breeds resentment, trauma, and instability. It seeds hatred in young minds who grow up knowing only hunger, loss, and war. A famine in Gaza will not stay in Gaza. It will ripple across the region, affecting peace processes, refugee flows, and global perceptions of justice. Thus, the starvation in Gaza is not just collateral damage—it is a conscious by-product of conflict strategy and geopolitical neglect. The world must now choose whether to look away or act. As aid trickles in, as children with sunken cheeks cry too softly to be heard, one thing is clear: Gaza's famine is not just a humanitarian failure—it is a moral indictment of our times. Unless the world intervenes decisively and immediately, the hunger of today will become the generational trauma of tomorrow. top videos View all About the Author Shilpy Bisht Shilpy Bisht, Deputy News Editor at News18, writes and edits national, world and business stories. She started off as a print journalist, and then transitioned to online, in her 12 years of experience. Her More Get Latest Updates on Movies, Breaking News On India, World, Live Cricket Scores, And Stock Market Updates. Also Download the News18 App to stay updated! tags : gaza crisis israel-gaza war starvation view comments Location : New Delhi, India, India First Published: July 30, 2025, 14:50 IST News explainers Mass Starvation In Gaza: How The War Is Breeding A Humanitarian Time Bomb Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
News18
an hour ago
- News18
Gaza's Hunger Pain: When The Body Starts To Eat Itself Due To Lack Of Food
Last Updated: Gaza's hunger crisis explained: What happens when humans get no food? Why is starvation or malnutrition worse for kids? 'We basically eat our body for nutrition,' says expert In what may be termed as the huge cost of the Israel-Gaza war are the deaths from starvation and malnutrition-related conditions. Gaza's 2.1 million residents have been subjected to relentless bombardment and mass displacement — many forced to flee multiple times, some even as many as 10 times since the conflict began. This instability, coupled with blocked aid, has created conditions of extreme hunger. How children became the casualty of Hamas-Israel war Hamas triggered the war when militants stormed into southern Israel on October 7, 2023, killing around 1,200 people and taking 251 others hostage. Fifty hostages remain in Gaza, but fewer than half are thought to be alive. Israel's military offensive has killed more than 59,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza's Health Ministry. The ministry is part of the Hamas government, but the U.N. and other international organisations see it as the most reliable source of data on casualties. Israel enforced a complete blockade on food and other supplies for 2½ months beginning in March. It said its objective was to increase pressure on Hamas to release dozens of hostages it has held since its attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. Why is the aid not really helping Gazans? Though the flow of aid resumed in May, it is drip fed and is a fraction of what aid organisations say is needed. Aid deliveries have often fallen far below the daily minimum needed to sustain the population—at times dipping to just 10-20 trucks a day, compared to the pre-war average of 500. The result is a humanitarian system that delivers just enough to avoid total collapse, but not enough to prevent widespread hunger, disease, and death. How do Gazans get aid? Why many die even while getting food? Why is there malnutrition despite aid? Most of the food supplies Israel has allowed into Gaza go to the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, an American group backed by Israel. Aid seekers (on foot, by cart, or vehicle) travel up to a designated drop-off point, usually 1.5 km from the distribution site, where they must disembark and proceed on foot carrying supplies. From there, they walk to al Joura—a sandy pit where families wait, often for 12–24 hours, to receive a drone or military 'go" signal to move toward the aid point. Once the signal arrives (supposedly indicating safe passage), they proceed roughly another 1 km through lines of Israeli military checkpoints, sniper positions, drones, and barriers to reach the guarded gate of the distribution center. Witnesses have reported fire near or into al Joura—even before the signal is given—endangering crowds gathered for hours hoping for sustenance. After the signal, thousands of people who have waited for hours (often overnight) in al Joura or nearby dunes begin sprinting toward the distribution gate to ensure they get aid before the supplies run out, often causing stampede. To reach the gate, people must cross 500–1,000 meters of exposed terrain. This area is often surveilled by Israeli drones, surrounded by sniper or observation posts and lined with Israeli army checkpoints or trenches. Despite the 'go signal," witnesses say that gunfire frequently breaks out, either to control the crowd or for unclear reasons. Many are killed or injured in the chaos — shot by live rounds, rubber bullets, or drone-fired projectiles; crushed in crowd surges or while trying to flee; trampled if they fall. Israeli soldiers or GHF staff allow only a small number of people through the final gate. The rest are either turned back or forced to wait again until the next day. Gaza's aid-related deaths According to the United Nations and humanitarian sources, at least 875 people have been killed while trying to access food, water, or medical assistance since late May. The vast majority—over 670 deaths—occurred near Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) distribution centers, primarily in Rafah and Khan Younis. Gaza sees a rise in starvation, malnutrition-related deaths The United Nations World Food Programme has reported that more than one-third of the population has gone for days at a time without food. At least a quarter of Gaza's people are now experiencing what experts describe as 'famine-like conditions." The World Health Organisation has warned that the 'worst-case scenario of famine" is no longer a prediction — it has arrived. Take a look at the numbers: By July 22, 2025, Gaza's Health Ministry reported 101 deaths due to malnutrition and starvation since October 2023, including 80 children. As of July 30, 2025, Anadolu Agency reported 154 cumulative deaths from starvation—89 were children. Reuters on August 1, 2025 confirmed the figure—156 such deaths, including 90 children. UNICEF statement on July 24, 2025 highlighted that child malnutrition deaths rose from 52 to 80 in just a few months. On August 2, 2025, reports from WHO indicated 21 deaths of children under five due to malnutrition in 2025 up to mid July. Moreover, UNICEF estimates that 100,000 women and children are currently suffering from severe malnutrition, while other UN agencies warn that disease is spreading rapidly and health infrastructure has almost completely collapsed. Case study 1: From dawn to dusk, a Gaza family focuses only on finding food The AP reported one family's search for food from dawn to dusk. Every morning, Abeer and Fadi Sobh wake up in their tent in the Gaza Strip to the same question: How will they find food for themselves and their six young children? The couple has three options: Maybe a charity kitchen will be open, and they can get a pot of watery lentils. Or they can try jostling through crowds to get some flour from a passing aid truck. The last resort is begging. If all else fails, they simply don't eat. It happens more and more these days, as hunger saps their energy, strength and hope. The predicament of the Sobhs, who live in a seaside refugee camp west of Gaza City after being displaced multiple times, is the same for families throughout the war-ravaged territory. Aid worker in Gaza says she no longer recognises friends due to hunger Spokesperson for the UN Agency OCHA which coordinates humanitarian aid in Gaza, Olga Cherevko, told CNN's Ben Hunte that she has 'no words' when she sees her friends in Gaza as they are in such a desperate state. 'Situation gone from bad to worse': Paediatric oncologist on starvation in Gaza Dr. Zeena Salman, a pediatric oncologist and founder of the organization HEAL Palestine, told CNN's Wolf Blitzer what's happening in Gaza is 'the decimation of a healthcare system". What happens when human body is deprived of food? 'If you're not eating enough, we have evolved mechanisms for how to stay alive," Dr. Kevin Stephenson, a malnutrition expert at Washington University in St Louis, US, explained, while speaking to National Public Radio (NPR). 'We basically eat our own body for nutrition." This self-consumption unfolds in five overlapping metabolic stages, as the body adapts to survive without external energy sources. When the human body is deprived of food, it enters a progressive state of energy conservation and physical breakdown. Here's a timeline of what typically happens, stage by stage: 0-6 hours: Post-meal/ normal state The body uses glucose from the last meal for energy. Glycogen (stored glucose in liver and muscles) is still available. 60-72 hours: Glycogen depletion and onset of ketosis Glycogen stores run out in 24–48 hours. The body begins breaking down fat stores into ketones (alternative fuel for brain and muscles). Blood sugar levels start to drop slightly. The person may feel intense hunger, irritability, fatigue, headaches, lightheadedness. 3-7 days: Muscle breakdown begins The body begins breaking down muscle protein to get amino acids for energy and essential functions (especially to feed the brain and heart). Ketones become the primary fuel source. Muscle wasting, slowed heart rate, and lowered body temperature occur. Mental clarity may fluctuate: some report clarity, others confusion or disorientation. Immune system starts weakening. 7-21 days: Severe starvation Fat stores become critically low, especially in lean individuals. Severe muscle loss including heart, diaphragm, and other organs. Major symptoms include extreme weakness, loss of coordination, drop in blood pressure and heart rate, difficulty breathing, swelling (edema) from protein deficiency (kwashiorkor-like symptoms). Organ failure risk increases. Cognitive decline: confusion, hallucinations, loss of consciousness. 21-70 days: Fatal starvation. Death usually occurs from cardiac arrest, infection (due to immune collapse), organ failure, dehydration (if no fluids are consumed). Estimated death time: Without food, but with water: 45–70 days Without food and water: 3-10 days, depending on climate and health Can you recover from starvation? Yes, but refeeding must be gradual. Too rapid nutrition reintroduction can cause Refeeding Syndrome, a dangerous shift in fluids and electrolytes that can be fatal. Specific starvation conditions in children like in Gaza Children deteriorate much faster under starvation. Their bodies need a steady stream of nutrients for growth, but their energy reserves are small. UNICEF estimates that 12.2 million children worldwide faced severe malnutrition last year, with South Asia being the hardest-hit region. Gaza is now adding dramatically to those figures. Children, especially under 5, are more vulnerable: Marasmus: Severe calorie deficiency which leads to emaciation Kwashiorkor: Protein deficiency leads to edema, skin/hair changes, liver enlargement Symptoms include: Sunken eyes, protruding ribs Thin limbs but swollen belly Apathy or constant crying Skin peeling, hair discoloration Psychological effects Irritability, apathy, and depression Impaired concentration and memory top videos View all Hallucinations and emotional numbness in extreme stages With Agency Inputs About the Author Manjiri Joshi At the news desk for 17 years, the story of her life has revolved around finding pun, facts while reporting, on radio, heading a daily newspaper desk, teaching mass media students to now editing special copies ...Read More Get Latest Updates on Movies, Breaking News On India, World, Live Cricket Scores, And Stock Market Updates. Also Download the News18 App to stay updated! tags : gaza Gaza aid gaza crisis news18 specials view comments Location : New Delhi, India, India First Published: August 03, 2025, 12:46 IST News explainers Gaza's Hunger Pain: When The Body Starts To Eat Itself Due To Lack Of Food Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Hindustan Times
7 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
10 killed after Israeli fire kills Gaza aid-seekers as US envoy meets with hostages' families
Israeli forces opened fire near two aid distribution sites run by the Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation as crowds of hungry Palestinians again sought food, killing at least 10 people, witnesses and health workers said Saturday. Experts this week said a 'worst-case scenario of famine' was occurring.(REUTERS) The violence came a day after US officials visited a GHF site, and the US ambassador called the troubled system 'an incredible feat.' Another 19 people were shot dead as they crowded near the Zikim crossing from Israel in the hope of obtaining aid, said Fares Awad, head of the Gaza health ministry's ambulance and emergency service. Nearly a week has passed since Israel, under international pressure amid growing scenes of starving children, announced limited humanitarian pauses and airdrops meant to get more food to Gaza's over 2 million people. They now largely rely on aid after almost 22 months of war. But the United Nations, partners and Palestinians say far too little aid is coming in, with months of supplies piled up outside Gaza waiting for Israeli approval. Trucks that enter are mostly stripped of supplies by desperate people and criminal groups before reaching warehouses for distribution. Experts this week said a 'worst-case scenario of famine' was occurring. On Saturday, Gaza's health ministry said seven Palestinians had died of malnutrition-related causes over the past 24 hours, including a child. Aid is 'far from sufficient,' Germany's government said via spokesman Stefan Kornelius. The U.N. has said 500 to 600 trucks of aid are needed daily. Families of the 50 hostages still in Gaza fear they are going hungry too, and blame Hamas, after the militants released images of an emaciated hostage, Evyatar David. 'The humanitarian aid flowing into Gaza, meant to alleviate suffering, must reach Evyatar, Guy and all the other hostages too,' David's brother Illay told a large rally in Tel Aviv. More deaths near U.S.-supported GHF sites Near the northernmost GHF distribution site near the Netzarim corridor, Yahia Youssef, who had come to seek aid, described a grimly familiar scene. After helping carry three people wounded by gunshots, he said he saw others on the ground, bleeding. 'It's the same daily episode,' Youssef said. Health workers said at least eight people were killed. Israel's military said it fired warning shots at a gathering approaching its forces. At least two people were killed in the Shakoush area hundreds of meters (yards) from where the GHF operates in the southernmost city of Rafah, witnesses said. Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis received two bodies and many injured. Witness Mohamed Abu Taha said Israeli troops opened fire toward the crowds. He saw three people — two men and a woman — shot as he fled. Israel's military said it was not aware of any fire by its forces in the area. The GHF said nothing happened near its sites. GHF says its armed contractors have only used pepper spray or fired warning shots to prevent deadly crowding. Israel 's military on Friday said it was working to make the routes under its control safer. The GHF — backed by millions of dollars in U.S. support — launched in May as Israel sought an alternative to the U.N.-run system, which had safely delivered aid for much of the war but was accused by Israel of allowing Hamas to siphon off supplies. Israel has not offered evidence for that claim, and the U.N. has denied it. From May 27 to July 31, 859 people were killed near GHF sites, according to a U.N. report Thursday. Hundreds more have been killed along the routes of U.N.-led food convoys. Hamas-led police once guarded those convoys, but Israeli fire targeted the officers. Israel and GHF have claimed the toll has been exaggerated. Airdrops by a Jordan-led coalition — which includes Israel, the UAE, Egypt, France, and Germany — are another approach, though experts say the strategy remains deeply inadequate and even dangerous for people on the ground. 'Let's go back to what works & let us do our job," Philippe Lazzarini, the head of the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees, wrote on social media, calling for more and safer truck deliveries. Hostage families push Israel to cut a deal US President Donald Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff, met with hostages' families Saturday, a week after quitting ceasefire talks, blaming Hamas' intransigence. 'I didn't hear anything new from him. I heard that there was pressure from the Americans to end this operation, but we didn't hear anything practical,' said Michel Illouz, father of Israeli hostage Guy Illouz. He said he asked Witkoff to set a time frame but got 'no answers.' Protesters called on Israel's government to make a deal to end the war, imploring them to "stop this nightmare and bring them out of the tunnels.' Airstrikes continue Nasser Hospital said it received five bodies after two Israeli strikes on tents sheltering displaced people in Gaza's south. The health ministry's ambulance and emergency service said a strike hit a house between the towns of Zawaida and Deir al-Balah, killing two parents and their three children. Another strike hit a tent in Khan Younis, killing a mother and her daughter. Israel's top general Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir warned that 'combat will continue without rest' if hostages aren't freed. Coming home to ruins Most Palestinians are crowded into ever-shrinking areas considered safe. 'I don't know what to do. Destruction, destruction," said Mohamed Qeiqa, who returned home to Gaza City and stood amid the neighbourhood's collapsed concrete slabs. 'Where will people settle?' The war began when Hamas attacked southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing around 1,200 people, mostly civilians. Israel's retaliatory offensive has killed more than 60,400 Palestinians, according to Gaza's Health Ministry, which doesn't distinguish between militants and civilians but says women and children make up over half the dead. The ministry operates under the Hamas government. The U.N. and other international organisations see it as the most reliable source of data on casualties. The ministry says 93 children have died from malnutrition-related causes in Gaza since the war began. It said 76 adults have died of malnutrition-related causes since late June, when it started counting adult deaths.
