Starvation, Medical Crisis Devastate Gaza Hospitals Amid Conflict

Gaza's hospitals and medical staff are facing an unprecedented humanitarian crisis marked by severe malnutrition and overwhelming trauma cases due to the ongoing conflict. Children like 10-year-old Bayan Saqer suffer extreme starvation, with medical professionals reporting widespread hunger affecting both patients and healthcare workers, many of whom struggle to find enough food to sustain themselves during long shifts. Hospitals such as Nasser and Shifa Medical Complex are operating beyond capacity, treating trauma patients in every available space, including stairs and floors, with bed occupancy rates reaching up to 300%. Despite international efforts, including $30 million in U.S. funding to aid organizations like the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, logistical challenges and political disputes hinder the delivery and distribution of vital food and medical supplies. Medical staff describe fainting from weakness while trying to care for a malnourished population, emphasizing that starvation is now a critical and pervasive threat alongside the violence. Calls for an immediate ceasefire highlight the urgent need to stop the ongoing suffering and facilitate humanitarian access to Gaza.