According to the United Nations, children are starving to death in the Gaza Strip after months of fighting and humanitarian aid being blocked. UN staff visiting the north of the region where aid has been largely cut off gathered information on children suffering from severe malnutrition and starvation, World Health Organization (WHO) chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on X (Twitter) today. .

Tedros: “Terrible” situation in hospitals

The WHO relief mission visits to the two clinics will be the first since October 2023 – despite his organization's efforts to gain frequent access to the north of the Gaza Strip, the WHO chief complained. The situation in hospitals is “terrible”, especially at Al-Awda Hospital, where one of the buildings was destroyed.

Along with food shortages, power outages are a “serious threat to the treatment of patients”. WHO provided 9,500 liters of fuel as part of its relief effort, but that was only a “part” of what was needed to save human lives.

“Safe and Regular Aid Distributions”

In late February, the World Food Program (WFP) warned of “imminent” famine. Tedros called on Israel to ensure “secure and regular” aid deliveries. He again called for a ceasefire.

As of Sunday, 15 children had died of malnutrition, the UN emergency agency OCHA said, citing the local Hamas-controlled health authority. This information could not be independently verified.