Two children died of malnutrition in a hospital in the northern Gaza Strip, the health ministry in the Hamas-controlled Palestinian enclave said tonight.
“Two children died at Al Shifa hospital as a result of dehydration and malnutrition,” said ministry spokesman Ashraf al-Kindra, adding that a total of six children have died in recent days from the same causes.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) confirmed today that two children died of dehydration and malnutrition at Kamal Atouan Hospital (in the northern part of the Gaza Strip), two deaths that were also announced by Ashraf al-Kindra.
The United Nations has sounded the alarm that the vast majority of Gaza’s population is at risk of starvation – particularly in the north of the besieged enclave, where destruction, fighting and looting make it almost impossible to deliver humanitarian aid.
Palestinians in Gaza told Agence France-Presse (AFP) in the past days that they were forced to eat leaves or even animal feed.
According to the UN agency for Palestine refugees (UNRWA), about 2,300 trucks with humanitarian aid entered the Gaza Strip in February, a number almost 50% lower compared to January.
Source: RES-MPE
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