Latest news with #childhunger
Al Jazeera
16-07-2025
- Health
- Al Jazeera
UN agency sounds alarm as 1 in 10 children in Gaza now malnourished
One in every 10 children screened in clinics in Gaza run by the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, is malnourished, as child hunger surges across the territory amid the continuing Israeli blockade on humanitarian aid. Israel's punishing prevention of aid entering Gaza has led to 'severe shortages of nutrition supplies', UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini said on Tuesday, describing the situation for starving children as 'engineered and man-made'. Lazzarini said the UN must be allowed to do its work in Gaza, particularly bringing in 'humanitarian assistance at scale, including for children'. 'Any additional delay to a ceasefire will cause more deaths,' he said, noting that more than 870 starving Palestinians had been killed so far while trying to access food from the highly criticised distribution system run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), which is backed by Israel and the United States. UNRWA's communications director, Juliette Touma, told reporters in Geneva via a videolink from Amman, Jordan, that 'medicine, nutrition supplies, hygiene material, fuel are all rapidly running out'. 'Our health teams are confirming that malnutrition rates are increasing in Gaza, especially since the siege was tightened more than four months ago on the second of March,' Touma said. 'One nurse that we spoke to told us that in the past, he only saw these cases of malnutrition in textbooks and documentaries,' she said. 'As malnutrition among children spreads across the war-torn enclave, UNRWA has over 6,000 trucks of food, hygiene supplies, medicine, medical supplies outside of Gaza. They are all waiting to go in,' Touma added. 'The world cannot continue to look away.' '1 in 10 children screened by UNRWA in #Gaza is now malnourished,' UNRWA @JulietteTouma briefs the press at @UNGeneva. Before the war, such cases were almost unheard of. Now, Gaza's shattered health system is overwhelmed — and aid is being blocked by the Government of Israel.… — UNRWA (@UNRWA) July 15, 2025 Since January 2024, UNRWA said it had screened more than 240,000 boys and girls under the age of five in its clinics, adding that before the war, acute malnutrition was rare in Gaza. Andee Clark Vaughan, an emergency nurse with the Palestinian Australian New Zealand Medical Association (PANZMA) based in Gaza, told Al Jazeera on Wednesday how Israeli authorities had confiscated baby formula from medical workers entering the territory. 'Immune systems are so compromised here because of the malnutrition,' Vaughan said, describing how Palestinian mothers are so malnourished that they are unable to produce breast milk to feed their infants and forced to make difficult decisions to keep their children alive. 'What we've been seeing here is moms trying to do their utmost best, mixing water – which is often contaminated – with beans or lentils just to make something of sustenance to get these kids fed and get them nutrients,' Vaughan added. On Monday, UNICEF said that last month, more than 5,800 children were diagnosed with malnutrition in Gaza, including more than 1,000 children with severe, acute malnutrition. It said it was an increase for the fourth month in a row.
Al Jazeera
16-07-2025
- Health
- Al Jazeera
UNRWA sounds alarm as 1 in 10 children in Gaza malnourished
One in every 10 children screened in clinics in Gaza run by the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, is malnourished, as child hunger surges across the territory amid the continuing Israeli blockade on humanitarian aid. Israel's punishing prevention of aid entering Gaza has led to 'severe shortages of nutrition supplies', UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini said on Tuesday, describing the situation for starving children as 'engineered and man-made'. Lazzarini said the UN must be allowed to do its work in Gaza, particularly bringing in 'humanitarian assistance at scale, including for children'. 'Any additional delay to a ceasefire will cause more deaths,' he said, noting that more than 870 starving Palestinians had been killed so far while trying to access food from the highly criticised distribution system run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), which is backed by Israel and the United States. UNRWA's communications director, Juliette Touma, told reporters in Geneva via a videolink from Amman, Jordan, that 'medicine, nutrition supplies, hygiene material, fuel are all rapidly running out'. 'Our health teams are confirming that malnutrition rates are increasing in Gaza, especially since the siege was tightened more than four months ago on the second of March,' Touma said. 'One nurse that we spoke to told us that in the past, he only saw these cases of malnutrition in textbooks and documentaries,' she said. 'As malnutrition among children spreads across the war-torn enclave, UNRWA has over 6,000 trucks of food, hygiene supplies, medicine, medical supplies outside of Gaza. They are all waiting to go in,' Touma added. 'The world cannot continue to look away.' '1 in 10 children screened by UNRWA in #Gaza is now malnourished,' UNRWA @JulietteTouma briefs the press at @UNGeneva. Before the war, such cases were almost unheard of. Now, Gaza's shattered health system is overwhelmed — and aid is being blocked by the Government of Israel.… — UNRWA (@UNRWA) July 15, 2025 Since January 2024, UNRWA said it had screened more than 240,000 boys and girls under the age of five in its clinics, adding that before the war, acute malnutrition was rare in Gaza. Andee Clark Vaughan, an emergency nurse with the Palestinian Australian New Zealand Medical Association (PANZMA) based in Gaza, told Al Jazeera on Wednesday how Israeli authorities had confiscated baby formula from medical workers entering the territory. 'Immune systems are so compromised here because of the malnutrition,' Vaughan said, describing how Palestinian mothers are so malnourished that they are unable to produce breast milk to feed their infants and forced to make difficult decisions to keep their children alive. 'What we've been seeing here is moms trying to do their utmost best, mixing water – which is often contaminated – with beans or lentils just to make something of sustenance to get these kids fed and get them nutrients,' Vaughan added. On Monday, UNICEF said that last month, more than 5,800 children were diagnosed with malnutrition in Gaza, including more than 1,000 children with severe, acute malnutrition. It said it was an increase for the fourth month in a row.
Yahoo
26-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Mercy Chefs' Feed 757 initiative kicks off
Mercy Chefs kicked off a summertime effort Wednesday to help fight child hunger in Hampton Roads. The nonprofit launched its Feed 757 initiative with a backpack build and distribution event at Hodges Manor Elementary School in Portsmouth, featuring more than 130 volunteers filling backpacks with seven full meals each.
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Resources for Summer Food Insecurity
Waco, TX (FOX 44) – Many children in Central Texas don't know where their next meal is coming from without the help of school meals, but there are resources available near you. The Shepherd's Heart Pantry is serving families who are food insecure with its 19 locations across Central Texas. Executive Director Robert Gager says summer months are the hardest for food insecure children. 'There's a lot of people that we see coming to our food distributions or mobile food distributions that may be from middle income families that have three or four kids, and they've got two car payments, a house payment and all the other bills that go with four kids. And they're hurting. They're hurting, so I know that the need is out there for the summer' The Shepherd's Heart Pantry is partnering with the Central Texas Food Bank to serve even more children this summer than last year. With the food banks help, the pantry estimates serving up to 3,000 children per week. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank launches summer meal program to fight child hunger
BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) — As summer break begins, thousands of children across south Louisiana are at risk of going hungry without access to school meals. To meet this critical need, the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank is launching a seasonal program to provide free meals to kids and teens in rural areas. Starting in June, the food bank will operate 13 summer meal distribution sites across 11 parishes, focusing on regions where grocery stores and food assistance are limited. 'When you talk about the number of children who are food insecure or hungry in our area, it's a challenge,' said Mike Manning, President and CEO of the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank. Each child 18 and under is eligible to receive one meal box per week, containing seven days' worth of shelf-stable breakfasts and lunches—no cooking or refrigeration required. No ID, proof of income, or citizenship status is necessary to participate. 'All they need to do is identify their site, pay attention to the date, and show up to get the food,' Manning explained. The initiative is funded in part by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and carried out in partnership with local libraries, churches, and community organizations. The Food Bank is deliberately targeting rural areas, as larger parishes like East Baton Rouge already have federally supported programs in place. 'Our goal is to address food insecurity where it's not already being covered,' said Manning. 'Don't be afraid or hesitant—this is about your kids.' The program runs through early August. Families can text 'FOOD' or 'COMIDA' to 304-304 to find the nearest participating location. (Sample of 5 sites listed below. Visit the Food Bank's website for the full list.) St. Helena Branch Library – Thursdays, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., June 5–Aug. 7 Clinton Branch Library – Wednesdays, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., June 4–Aug. 6 Morganza Branch Library – Tuesdays, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., June 3–July 29 Grosse Tete Branch Library – Mondays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., June 2–Aug. 4 Erwinville Community Children's Org. – Tuesdays, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., June 3–July 29 The Food Bank is also in need of donations and volunteers to support this summer's operations. To get involved, visit or call the Food Bank directly. Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank launches summer meal program to fight child hunger Orleans Parish sheriff's office asks for removal of district attorney in escape investigation Reward increased to $50K for each remaining Orleans Parish fugitives on the run Cat who survived 400-foot Utah canyon fall adopted by rescuing pilot Man arrested after 2023 ATM robbery in Baton Rouge Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
