Geneva: Gaza child malnutrition has worsened significantly, with nearly 12,000 children under the age of five now suffering from acute malnutrition, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
The agency confirmed that July recorded the highest number of monthly cases to date, highlighting the growing humanitarian crisis in the war-torn region.
WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated that between January and July 29, at least 99 people had died due to hunger-related causes, including 35 children, 29 of whom were under five. Figures from UNICEF show that admissions for malnutrition nearly doubled from 6,344 in June to 11,877 in July. Of those, 2,500 children are suffering from severe acute malnutrition.
The surge in the number of children with acute malnutrition in Gaza is staggering.
In February, 2,000 children were affected. By June, that figure tripled. Now it has nearly doubled again.
It is clear evidence that malnutrition is accelerating rapidly, putting young lives at… pic.twitter.com/VHZt2vwW3O
— UNICEF (@UNICEF) August 7, 2025
WHO has been supporting four malnutrition centres in Gaza, but its officials warned that nutritional supplies are alarmingly low. Rik Peeperkorn, WHO’s representative for the occupied Palestinian Territory, noted that, ‘the market needs to be flooded,’ stressing the urgent need for dietary diversity and large-scale nutritional aid.
A global hunger monitor has warned of an unfolding famine scenario in Gaza, with increasing reports of children dying due to hunger and aid routes still limited. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) also noted that food consumption has hit its lowest level since the beginning of the war.
More than 81 percent of households in Gaza now report poor food consumption, compared to 33 percent in April. The situation continues to deteriorate as malnutrition spreads among the youngest and most vulnerable. Humanitarian agencies warn that without immediate aid access, the crisis could spiral into a full-scale famine.
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