UNRWA Reports Alarming Malnutrition Rates Among Gaza's Children

In a striking report released on July 15, 2025, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) revealed that one in ten children screened in their clinics across Gaza is suffering from malnutrition. This alarming statistic comes amid a continuing humanitarian crisis exacerbated by the Israeli blockade, which has severely restricted the flow of essential supplies into the territory. The UNRWA Chief Philippe Lazzarini described the situation as "engineered and man-made," emphasizing the urgent need for humanitarian assistance as child hunger surges in the region.

The ongoing conflict has resulted in significant challenges for aid delivery, with reports indicating that over 6,000 trucks carrying food, hygiene supplies, and medical necessities are currently stalled at the borders, awaiting clearance to enter Gaza. Juliette Touma, UNRWA’s communications director, underscored the critical nature of the situation, stating, "Medicine, nutrition supplies, hygiene material, fuel are all rapidly running out."

As the blockade has tightened, malnutrition rates have reportedly increased, particularly among children under the age of five. According to UNRWA, since January 2024, more than 240,000 children have been screened, revealing that acute malnutrition, previously rare, has become alarmingly common. The situation is compounded by Israeli authorities' confiscation of essential supplies, including baby formula, as reported by Andee Clark Vaughan, an emergency nurse with the Palestinian Australian New Zealand Medical Association (PANZMA). She highlighted the dire circumstances faced by mothers in Gaza, many of whom are unable to produce breast milk due to their own malnutrition, forcing them to make desperate compromises to feed their children.

UNICEF has also reported a sharp increase in malnutrition diagnoses, with over 5,800 children identified last month, including more than 1,000 cases of severe acute malnutrition. This trend marks an unsettling escalation in the humanitarian crisis gripping Gaza, with health teams warning that the children's immune systems are increasingly compromised due to inadequate nutrition.

Lazzarini urged for immediate action, stating, "The world cannot continue to look away." He stressed that any further delay in accessing humanitarian aid would lead to more preventable deaths among children in Gaza. As international organizations call for an end to the blockade and an escalation of humanitarian efforts, the situation remains critical, with numerous lives hanging in the balance amid an ongoing conflict that shows no signs of abating.

The implications of these findings extend beyond immediate health concerns; they point to broader socio-political ramifications within the region. With the humanitarian crisis deepening, the potential for further instability increases, necessitating a coordinated international response to address both the humanitarian needs and the underlying political issues fueling this protracted conflict.