Children in Gaza Hospital Suffering from Malnutrition Appeal for Help as UN Warns of Famine
In the war-torn region of Gaza, children are suffering from malnutrition and dehydration, and their desperate pleas for help have caught the attention of the world. The recent death of Ali, a Palestinian baby boy, has shed light on the dire situation faced by these innocent children. Ali’s father, who chose to remain anonymous, spoke out about the lack of food and resources that ultimately led to his son’s death.
“Ali was born in wartime and there was no food or anything for his mother to eat – a matter which caused his kidneys to fail,” the grieving father explained. “Ali’s life got worse day after day. We tried to get him treated at hospitals, but there was no help… Ali died in front of the entire world, which kept watching him pass away.”
Tragically, Ali is not alone. At least 10 other children have died at the overwhelmed Kamal Adwan hospital in Beit Lahia due to a lack of food, according to a World Health Organisation team that visited the hospital. The Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza has reported a total of 18 child deaths from malnutrition and dehydration across the territory, with 15 occurring at Kamal Adwan. Additionally, six infants are currently being treated for malnutrition at the hospital, raising concerns about their survival.
The United Nations’ children’s agency, Unicef, has issued a warning that the number of children dying from starvation will continue to rise unless the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas is resolved and humanitarian aid is delivered promptly. Gaza’s health ministry reveals that children and women make up 70% of the casualties in the war, with over 30,700 people killed and 72,000 injured since its inception.
The situation in northern Gaza is particularly dire, with an estimated 300,000 people isolated and hunger reaching catastrophic levels. The World Food Programme has reported that only a trickle of aid has been able to reach the region, exacerbating the malnutrition crisis. In fact, screenings conducted by UN agencies in January found that one in six children under the age of two in northern Gaza were acutely malnourished, with almost 3% suffering from severe wasting and requiring urgent treatment.
The lack of nutritious food, safe water, and medical services, coupled with the exhaustion and trauma caused by the conflict, has also hindered mothers’ ability to breastfeed their babies. Breast milk and formula supplies are almost non-existent in the north, leaving infants at risk of severe dehydration and malnutrition, which can lead to life-threatening conditions like kidney failure.
Dr. Samia Abdel Jalil, who works at Kamal Adwan’s intensive care unit, shared a heartbreaking story of an infant girl and her older sister who both died at the hospital due to a lack of milk. “We had difficulty in obtaining milk for the entire department and not just for that little girl,” she recalled. “She died without getting her small dose of milk.”
Among the seriously ill children being treated at Kamal Adwan is Salah Samara, a four-month-old boy suffering from chronic kidney disease and urinary retention. His mother expressed her anguish over her son’s condition and pleaded for help. “He has the right to receive treatment and has the right to everything else, by virtue of being a child at the beginning of his life,” she said. “His condition is getting worse every day. He needs treatment abroad immediately and urgently. I hope that anyone who listens to my voice will help treat my child.”
Dr. Ahmed al-Kahlot, the director of Kamal Adwan hospital, warned that the reported child deaths due to malnutrition are likely an underestimation of the true scale of the problem. He revealed that the counting of such cases only began two weeks ago, suggesting that the actual number is much higher.
The dire situation in Gaza has prompted calls for increased aid distribution. The director-general of the World Health Organization, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, urged Israel to ensure the safe and regular delivery of humanitarian aid. Western governments are also pressuring Israel to do more to facilitate aid distribution, with Joe Biden stating, “We must get more aid into Gaza… There’s no excuse, none.”
However, the delivery of aid remains a challenge. The World Food Programme’s recent attempt to bring food aid to northern Gaza was blocked by Israeli soldiers, and the convoy was later looted by desperate crowds. The Israeli defence ministry has stated that while they will continue their humanitarian efforts, their primary goal remains the release of hostages and the liberation of Gaza from Hamas.
As the children in Gaza continue to suffer from malnutrition and dehydration, their pleas for help grow louder. The international community must come together to ensure that aid reaches these innocent victims and that a lasting solution is found to end the conflict. The lives of countless children hang in the balance