US nurse tells of Israeli authorities confiscating provides of child components being introduced into Gaza by medical employees.
One in each 10 kids screened in clinics in Gaza run by the United Nations company for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, is malnourished, as little one starvation surges throughout the territory amid the persevering with Israeli blockade on humanitarian support.
Israel’s punishing prevention of support coming into Gaza has led to “extreme shortages of vitamin provides”, UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini stated on Tuesday, describing the state of affairs for ravenous kids as “engineered and man-made”.
Lazzarini stated the UN should be allowed to do its work in Gaza, significantly bringing in “humanitarian help at scale, together with for kids”.
“Any further delay to a ceasefire will trigger extra deaths,” he stated, noting that greater than 870 ravenous Palestinians had been killed up to now whereas attempting to entry meals from the extremely criticised distribution system run by the Gaza Humanitarian Basis (GHF), which is backed by Israel and the USA.
UNRWA’s communications director, Juliette Touma, advised reporters in Geneva through a videolink from Amman, Jordan, that “medication, vitamin provides, hygiene materials, gas are all quickly working out”.
“Our well being groups are confirming that malnutrition charges are rising in Gaza, particularly for the reason that siege was tightened greater than 4 months in the past on the second of March,” Touma stated.
“One nurse that we spoke to advised us that previously, he solely noticed these instances of malnutrition in textbooks and documentaries,” she stated.
“As malnutrition amongst kids spreads throughout the war-torn enclave, UNRWA has over 6,000 vehicles of meals, hygiene provides, medication, medical provides outdoors of Gaza. They’re all ready to go in,” Touma added.
“The world can not proceed to look away.”
“1 in 10 kids screened by UNRWA in #Gaza is now malnourished,” UNRWA @JulietteTouma briefs the press at @UNGeneva.
Earlier than the conflict, such instances have been virtually remarkable.
Now, Gaza’s shattered well being system is overwhelmed — and support is being blocked by the Authorities of Israel.… pic.twitter.com/3b8S2qONef
— UNRWA (@UNRWA) July 15, 2025
Since January 2024, UNRWA stated it had screened greater than 240,000 girls and boys underneath the age of 5 in its clinics, including that earlier than the conflict, acute malnutrition was uncommon in Gaza.
Andee Clark Vaughan, an emergency nurse with the Palestinian Australian New Zealand Medical Affiliation (PANZMA) based mostly in Gaza, advised Al Jazeera on Wednesday how Israeli authorities had confiscated child components from medical employees coming into the territory.
“Immune methods are so compromised right here due to the malnutrition,” Vaughan stated, describing how Palestinian moms are so malnourished that they’re unable to supply breast milk to feed their infants and compelled to make tough choices to maintain their kids alive.
“What we’ve been seeing right here is mothers attempting to do their utmost finest, mixing water – which is usually contaminated – with beans or lentils simply to make one thing of sustenance to get these youngsters fed and get them vitamins,” Vaughan added.
On Monday, UNICEF stated that final month, greater than 5,800 kids have been recognized with malnutrition in Gaza, together with greater than 1,000 kids with extreme, acute malnutrition.
It stated it was a rise for the fourth month in a row.