Over 66,000 Children Face Severe Malnutrition in Gaza Crisis

Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians in Gaza are surviving on just one meal every two or three days as Israel's ongoing blockade, which has closed border crossings to food, medical, and humanitarian aid since early March, worsens the humanitarian crisis. UNRWA and other humanitarian organizations report that more than 66,000 children are suffering from severe malnutrition, with at least 57 Palestinians having died of starvation since October. The World Bank notes that nearly 2.4 million Gazans are now entirely dependent on humanitarian aid. UNRWA has rejected a new Israeli plan to distribute aid through private security contractors, stating it fails to meet UN standards and could endanger civilians and aid workers. Human rights groups warn that the enclave is nearing collapse, and the situation is described as 'manmade & politically motivated starvation' by UNRWA's Commissioner-General. The UN and international aid organizations insist that only aid distribution systems upholding humanitarian principles can address the escalating crisis.