Canned food running out in Gaza amid ‘famine-like conditions’
The Israeli military has blocked the entry of all humanitarian aid and goods supplies to the public and private sectors in Gaza.
Families are having to adopt drastic tactics for survival, but this ability to endure will not last long. The closure of borders has led to the depletion of food supplies in Gaza, as the WFP [UN’s World Food Programme] stated.
Here, there are famine-like conditions that have brought serious consequences for vulnerable groups, including children. About 20 percent of the 55,000 pregnant women are malnourished, with half of them experiencing high-risk pregnancies, a terrifying rate to observe in such a fragile health environment.
The WFP Gaza office has also reported 60,000 children have been diagnosed with acute malnutrition and are receiving treatment in hospitals.
Even the local market is running out of canned food and essential supplies, which raises the alarm of growing famine in Gaza.
Paediatricians say basic sources of nutrition unavailable in Gaza
Medical workers in Gaza say children are suffering from widespread malnutrition. The UN said it has seen an 80 percent increase in the number of children suffering acute malnutrition in the month of March. Israel began its blockade of humanitarian aid on March 2.
Ziyad Majaida, a paediatrician in Khan Younis, told The Associated Press that children need 1g to 2g of protein for each kilogramme they weigh each day from foods such as meat, eggs, dairy and fish.
“Of course, these things are unfortunately unavailable due to the closure of the crossings for more than two months,” he said.
Gaza death toll rises
At least 50 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks across Gaza, and one body has been recovered in the past 24 hours, according to the enclave’s Health Ministry.
At least 113 people were also injured in that period, the ministry added. The death toll in Gaza rose to 52,365 killed, with 117,905 wounded, since October 7, 2023, it added.
Israel has killed at least 2,273 Palestinians and wounded 5,864 since it broke the ceasefire on March 18, according to the ministry.
