Nearly a Quarter of Babies in Gaza Suffer from Acute Malnutrition

Almost a quarter of babies in the Gaza Strip are acutely malnourished, according to a report by the aid organization Doctors of the World. The same applies to a similar percentage of breastfeeding women. The situation in Gaza, which has been blockaded by the Israeli military, restricting essential food supplies, is now comparable to hunger-stricken regions like Yemen and Northeast Nigeria.

Doctors of the World conducted measurements of arm circumference among children and women visiting their clinics in Gaza over the past year. The findings indicate a rapid increase in acute malnutrition since the beginning of this year, which the organization directly attributes to the Israeli blockade.

"Hunger is being used as a weapon of war," said director Jasper Kuipers. The organization notes that before the Israeli invasion, triggered by Hamas's bloody surprise attack on October 7, 2023, acute malnutrition was virtually nonexistent in Gaza.

The current situation is not as severe as last November but is trending in that direction. Approximately 12% of children under five and 19% of pregnant and breastfeeding women are acutely malnourished. With many children and women at risk, these numbers could rise rapidly in the coming months.