As Israeli bombardment continues across the Gaza Strip, the youngest and most vulnerable—infants and newborns—are paying the heaviest price. Humanitarian agencies warn that a catastrophic wave of malnutrition is sweeping through Gaza, putting thousands of babies at risk of starvation, stunted growth, and death.

With Gaza’s health system in ruins and food supplies dangerously low, hospitals are overwhelmed with malnourished children. Doctors say babies are arriving weak, dehydrated, and barely responsive. Many are born underweight due to their mothers’ lack of nutrition during pregnancy.

“Some of these newborns weigh less than 1.5 kilograms,” said a nurse at Al-Shifa Hospital. “They are bones wrapped in skin.”

The situation has become so dire that the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) issued a chilling warning: “Hunger is being weaponised in Gaza.”

Blockade, Bombing, and Aid Obstruction Fuel the Crisis

Since October 2023, Gaza has been under relentless Israeli assault following the Hamas attack on Israel. The blockade—tightened even further during the conflict—has nearly shut off access to food, clean water, and medical aid.

Truckloads of humanitarian supplies wait at Gaza’s borders, often denied entry or delayed for days. As a result, powdered milk, baby formula, and basic food items have become nearly impossible to find in many areas.

“There is no formula in the markets. Even mothers cannot breastfeed because they’re starving too,” said a volunteer at a shelter in southern Gaza.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has confirmed that at least 90% of children under five in Gaza now suffer from severe food insecurity. Many have symptoms of wasting—a deadly form of malnutrition that causes rapid weight loss and muscle deterioration.

Trump Claims Israel Agrees to 60-Day Gaza Ceasefire, Urges Hamas to Respond

UNICEF also reports that hospitals treating malnourished babies lack fuel, electricity, and basic medication, putting their lives at even greater risk.

Aid Agencies Urge Immediate Ceasefire to Save Children

International agencies are calling for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire, warning that every hour of delay puts more children at risk.

“This is a man-made crisis,” said Catherine Russell, Executive Director of UNICEF. “The suffering of Gaza’s children is not collateral damage—it is a direct consequence of war policies and access restrictions.”

In many overcrowded shelters, babies sleep on cold floors without blankets. Diapers, clean water, and basic hygiene supplies are unavailable. Health workers say they’re helpless to stop the rising death toll.

“What we’re witnessing is the slow starvation of an entire generation,” said a Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders) field doctor. “No baby should ever die from hunger in 2025.”

While global powers debate ceasefire terms and political gains, Gaza’s children continue to die in silence.

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