GAZA (Palestine Foundation Information Center) The World Food Program has confirmed that more than 70,000 children in Gaza are facing severe levels of malnutrition, warning that further escalation in the conflict in Gaza could lead to an almost complete halt in relief operations.
The agency stated in a Thursday announcement that the aid reaching Gaza remains insufficient in both quantity and variety of supplies.
This comes as both local and international warnings intensify regarding the growing risk of famine in Gaza. UN reports indicate that around 2.2 million Palestinians in Gaza are facing a real famine, with distressing images and reports of children losing their lives due to food shortages.
In a related development, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) reported on Thursday that around 700,000 women and girls of menstrual age live in Gaza.
UNRWA stated in a Facebook post today: “Since Israel imposed a blockade on Gaza on March 2, all hygiene supplies—including sanitary pads—have been completely depleted.”
The Israeli assault on Gaza has continued for approximately 20 months, resulting in more than 54,000 martyrs and around 125,000 injured, according to Gaza’s Ministry of Health. There are also unknown numbers of missing persons trapped under the rubble of their homes or in areas unreachable due to intense Israeli bombardment.
After more than two months of a suffocating blockade, Israel allowed a limited number of UN trucks into Gaza on May 19. However, humanitarian organizations have described these supplies as merely “a drop in the ocean” compared to Gaza’s overwhelming needs.
