UN says Gaza aid far below survival needs as child malnutrition hits record high
'The amount of aid and goods that can be brought into Gaza does not meet the minimum requirements of people who are starving,' UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters, stressing that a ceasefire is 'critically needed' to reach those in need and ensure a sustained, scaled-up aid flow.
Citing Gaza's Health Ministry, Dujarric said eight people, including three children, died from malnutrition and starvation in the past 24 hours.
'Such reports have become a daily occurrence,' he added.
The World Health Organisation on Wednesday conducted refresher training at Al-Rantisi Children's Hospital — one of only two nutrition stabilisation centres in Gaza City — to update staff on inpatient malnutrition management.
The UN spokesman said a record surge in child malnutrition has forced the expansion of such facilities, with over 340 children admitted for treatment so far this year.
As of August 5, at least 49 child deaths from malnutrition have been confirmed, including 39 under the age of five, Dujarric added.
Israel has maintained a blockade on Gaza for 18 years and sealed all border crossings on March 2, collapsing a January ceasefire and prisoner swap deal, and further choking humanitarian access.
Since October 2023, Israel's brutal offensive has killed more than 61,000 Palestinians — the vast majority women and children — according to local authorities, while devastating Gaza's infrastructure, collapsing its health system, and causing acute food shortages.
Israel has only recently allowed limited aid through a controversial US- and Israeli-backed organisation, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF).
Israeli forces and contractors have allegedly fired on people seeking aid, killing nearly 1,400 and injuring over 4,000 since late May, when the GHF began operations, according to the UN. — Bernama-Anadolu
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Straits Times
9 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Gaza's daily toll tripled as health system collapses
GAZA CITY/ISTANBUL: Medical charity Doctors Without Borders (MSF) said on Saturday that the number of injured Palestinians by Israeli fire in Gaza has tripled since late May, as the territory's shattered health system struggles to cope, Anadolu Ajansi (AA) reported. MSF's deputy medical coordinator in Gaza, Mohammed Abu Mughaisib, said in a video message that food distribution centres set up under an Israeli- and US-backed body known as the Gaza Relief Organisation have turned into "areas of death" rather than safe points for civilians. "What remains of the health sector is only a fragile skeleton, and now it faces a new horror," he said, warning that many of the wounded never make it to hospitals alive. According to Gaza's Health Ministry, nearly 1,924 people have been killed and more than 14,000 injured while waiting for aid at such sites since May 27, when the Israeli-run scheme began. Abu Mughaisib described scenes of crushed bones, amputated limbs, torn arteries and severe infections, stressing that emergency surgery and intensive care, both already decimated by months of war, are collapsing in the few hospitals still functioning. He called for an immediate ceasefire and unfettered humanitarian access, saying without them "there will be nothing left to save, neither hospitals, nor patients, nor the future." Israel has killed 61,900 Palestinians in Gaza since October 2023. The military campaign has devastated the enclave and brought it to the verge of famine. Last November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.
The Sun
a day ago
- The Sun
UN reports 1,760 killed seeking aid in Gaza since May
JERUSALEM: The UN human rights office revealed on Friday that at least 1,760 Palestinians have been killed while attempting to access aid in Gaza since late May. This marks a significant increase from the 1,373 deaths reported by the same office at the beginning of August. 'Since 27 May, and as of 13 August, we have recorded that at least 1,760 Palestinians have been killed while seeking aid; 994 in the vicinity of GHF (Gaza Humanitarian Foundation) sites and 766 along the routes of supply convoys,' the agency's office for the Palestinian territories stated. The UN attributed most of these killings to the Israeli military. Gaza's civil defence agency separately reported at least 38 fatalities on Friday, including 12 people waiting for humanitarian aid. The Israeli military defended its actions, stating troops were working to dismantle Hamas military capabilities while taking precautions to minimise civilian harm. Media restrictions in Gaza have made independent verification of casualty figures challenging for international outlets like AFP. Israeli military chief of staff recently confirmed plans for a new offensive aimed at defeating Hamas and rescuing remaining hostages. The operation intends to target Gaza City and nearby refugee camps, areas heavily impacted by over 22 months of conflict. Residents in Gaza City have reported intensified airstrikes on residential areas in recent days. Hamas condemned what it called aggressive Israeli ground incursions earlier this week. On Friday, the Israeli military confirmed ongoing operations on the outskirts of Gaza City. The proposed expansion of military operations has drawn international criticism and domestic opposition. UN experts warn of worsening famine conditions in Gaza due to severe restrictions on humanitarian aid. Hamas's October 2023 attack resulted in 1,219 deaths, according to AFP's tally of official figures. The Palestinian health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza reports at least 61,827 Palestinian deaths from Israel's offensive, figures deemed reliable by the UN. - AFP
Malay Mail
a day ago
- Malay Mail
Deaths from measles climb in Mexico, US, and Canada, amid outbreak
NEW YORK, Aug 16 — The Pan American Health Organization (Paho) reported yesterday an increase in measles cases in the Americas, particularly North America, amid rising deaths from the infection in Mexico, the United States and Canada. Why it's important The outbreaks are related to low vaccination coverage, the UN agency said, as 71 per cent of cases occurred in unvaccinated people and 18 per cent in individuals with unknown vaccination status. By the numbers As of August 8, 10,139 cases of measles and 18 related deaths had been confirmed from among 10 countries in the Americas, representing a 34-fold increase compared to the same period in 2024, Paho figures showed. Of those 18 deaths, 14 were in Mexico, three in the United States and one in Canada. Most of the deaths in Mexico occurred in Indigenous people between 1 and 54 years old, Paho said. Key quotes 'Measles is preventable with two doses of a vaccine, which is proven to be very safe and effective. To stop these outbreaks, countries must urgently strengthen routine immunization and conduct targeted vaccination campaigns in high-risk communities,' said Daniel Salas, responsible for immunisation at Paho. Context Measles is highly contagious and spreads rapidly among unvaccinated people, especially children, according to Paho. In the US, a recent study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) showed that vaccination rates for several diseases including measles, diphtheria and polio decreased among US kindergartners in the 2024-25 school year from the year before. — Reuters
