Humanitarian organizations report an alarming rise in acute malnutrition among children in Gaza this year. Over 19,000 minors have been hospitalized as the humanitarian crisis worsens under an extended blockade and restrictions to aid.
According to the United Nations humanitarian affairs body, 18,741 children under five were admitted for acute malnutrition from January through June 22 of 2025 and admitted for treatment from newsroom.ap.org to aljazeera.com as well as Youtube.com
UNICEF data revealed that in May alone, over 5,100 children aged six months to five years received medical care; an increase of almost 50 per cent over April (press.un.org/press/un/org.se.se omni.se +2 and aa.com/tr +12).
The collapse of key infrastructure – water, healthcare and electricity–has compounded Gaza’s health emergency, UNICEF warns. Only 40% of Gaza’s water systems are operational leaving children at risk from dehydration and waterborne diseases (sources: FT.com/theguardian.com and Reuters/Reuters respectively).
Hospitals are overburdened as hospitals report seeing an upsurge in malnourished pediatric patients due to limited access to water and food; Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis reports this surge, according to Apnews.com. Many chronic illnesses related to limited water access and food availability also contribute to malnourishment for these children, according to Apnews.com reports.
Food deliveries to Gaza decreased sharply from 1.07 million meals daily in April to just 209,000 by late June – leaving millions without consistent sustenance (FT.com/Ochaopt.org/4 Reuter’s/4).
Families describe relying on hot milk water for nutrition purposes to stave off starvation (FT.com).
Medical observers warn of both immediate and long-term implications associated with malnutrition treatment for children. Children subjected to malnutrition treatment face greater risks for irreparable physical and cognitive damage in the form of developmental delays, stunted growth and chronic illnesses later on in life, according to Reuter’s.com reports.
UNICEF spokesperson James Elder recently issued the following warning: “The humanitarian crisis is catastrophic; without increased aid deliveries we risk full-scale famine.” This warning can also be found at both Guardian.com and Reuter’s.com (+1 and +2).
He stressed the importance of targeting distribution efforts with precision rather than simply in terms of sheer quantity.
Aid groups are pushing Israel to open all border crossings and secure delivery zones more completely, amid humanitarian partners’ accusations that access issues, an ongoing blockade and intermittent fighting severely limit aid efforts. Aid organizations have also noted deadly incidents at distribution sites during early June – five mass casualty events alone within one week (uneicefusa.org and unicef.org each reported five mass-casualty events).
Gaza’s young children bear a heavy load in the absence of adequate aid. Dr. Lina Fakhouri, a pediatrician from Khan Younis Clinic in Gaza City, describes infants on the brink of collapse: “Their little bodies are frail bones wrapped in cloth–they need immediate assistance”.
International organizations are warning of impending famine in Gaza. According to WHO reports, water shortages have led to malnutrition and disease outbreaks that threaten life on its borders (reuters.com).
Emergency vaccination and hygiene programs have also become stretched thin, leaving children more prone to disease than ever.
The international community has responded with impassioned appeals but without real systemic change. Aid agencies stress the severity of pediatric malnutrition as an immediate health crisis as well as an indicator of wider collapse; one which warrants urgent global action.