Five Die from Malnutrition in Gaza Within 24 Hours as Humanitarian Crisis Deepens

At least five people, including children and the elderly, have died from malnutrition-related causes in the Gaza Strip within the past 24 hours, according to health officials, underscoring the escalating humanitarian crisis in the region. Medical authorities and aid workers warn that the situation is deteriorating rapidly as food supplies dwindle, clean water becomes increasingly scarce, and medical infrastructure continues to collapse under pressure.

The deaths were confirmed by the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza late Tuesday, with hospitals in the northern and central regions reporting that the victims showed signs of extreme malnourishment and dehydration. Among the dead, two were children under the age of 5, and one was an elderly woman with a chronic illness exacerbated by lack of food and access to treatment.

“These are preventable deaths,” said Dr. Sami Al-Khatib, a physician at Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City. “What we are witnessing is not just a public health emergency, but a moral one. No one should be dying of hunger in the 21st century.”

Gaza, a densely populated territory home to over two million people, has faced growing food insecurity due to a combination of factors, including long-standing border restrictions, economic blockade, and the ongoing conflict. Since the escalation of violence earlier this year, humanitarian access to the region has been severely limited. Truck deliveries carrying food, fuel, and medical supplies have been delayed or denied entry at key checkpoints, creating what aid groups describe as a “complete breakdown” in basic services.

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported that more than 80% of Gaza’s population is now dependent on humanitarian aid for survival. However, deliveries have been sporadic and insufficient to meet the rising demand. Many hospitals have already run out of essential nutrition supplements and intravenous fluids, making it nearly impossible to treat those in critical condition.

“We are out of options,” said Layla Hassan, a nutritionist working with an international NGO in Rafah. “We are now seeing children with visible signs of wasting — sunken eyes, bloated stomachs, and zero energy. Some mothers are too weak to breastfeed. People are surviving on one meal a day, if that.”

International organizations have repeatedly called for a ceasefire and unimpeded humanitarian access to the region. The World Food Programme (WFP) warned in a recent statement that Gaza is “on the brink of famine,” with thousands more lives at risk if immediate action is not taken.

Despite mounting pressure, access to northern Gaza — where needs are most acute — remains severely restricted. Convoys attempting to deliver food aid have reported coming under fire or being turned back. The WFP estimates that over 300,000 people in the region are at risk of acute hunger.

In a press conference held in Geneva, UN Secretary-General António Guterres described the situation in Gaza as “a stain on our collective conscience.” He urged world leaders to act swiftly to allow for humanitarian corridors and ensure the protection of civilians.

Meanwhile, local volunteers and medical staff continue to work under extraordinary conditions. With power outages lasting up to 20 hours a day and little fuel to run generators, hospitals are struggling to keep equipment functioning. Cold storage for food and medicine is no longer viable in many areas, and water purification systems have largely shut down.

Parents, desperate for help, are lining up outside clinics that no longer have supplies. In Khan Younis, one mother told reporters she had gone four days without solid food, sharing powdered milk with her two-year-old daughter. “We are not living anymore,” she said. “We are just waiting.”

Health experts warn that the death toll could rise sharply in the coming days. Children, the elderly, and those with chronic illnesses are particularly vulnerable to malnutrition-related complications such as respiratory failure, weakened immunity, and organ damage. Without immediate intervention, even mild infections could become fatal.

Humanitarian agencies are calling on donor nations and international stakeholders to ramp up aid deliveries and pressure all parties involved in the conflict to ensure safe passage for life-saving supplies. Appeals for emergency funding have been launched, but officials say bureaucratic and logistical hurdles continue to delay implementation.

As Gaza continues to suffer, the world watches — often in silence. For many residents, hope is fading as fast as food supplies.

“We’re not asking for luxury,” said Dr. Al-Khatib. “We’re asking for bread, water, and the right to live.”