Gaza’s Ministry of Health says at least 60,000 children are now “at risk of serious health complications due to malnutrition” as Israel maintains a blockade on humanitarian aid, cutting off essential food and medical supplies since March 2.
The warning came on Wednesday, a day after UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres rejected a new Israeli proposal for overseeing aid deliveries, stating it would risk “further controlling and callously limiting aid down to the last calorie and grain of flour”, UNB reports.
According to the Health Ministry, the lack of proper food and clean water is worsening health conditions, and the continuing ban on child vaccinations — including for polio — is deepening the crisis. With border crossings sealed, aid agencies have been unable to bring in life-saving supplies for over a month.
The UN reports that 21 nutrition centres in Gaza have been forced to shut down, disrupting care for roughly 350 children already suffering from severe malnutrition. The World Food Programme (WFP) previously warned that intensified Israeli military operations have severely disrupted food aid efforts, putting hundreds of thousands at risk of hunger and malnutrition.
“WFP and partners from the food security sector have been unable to bring new food supplies into Gaza for more than three weeks,” the agency said, adding that current stockpiles would only last up to two weeks.
For over 18 months, Israel has repeatedly used food and humanitarian aid as a form of pressure on the Palestinian population during its military campaign, which the Health Ministry says has killed more than 50,000 people.
Last week, COGAT — the Israeli military body overseeing civilian matters in occupied Palestinian territories — met with UN and international aid officials, proposing “a structured monitoring and aid entry mechanism” for Gaza. It claimed Hamas was diverting aid, though Jonathan Whittall, a senior UN official for Gaza and the occupied West Bank, said there was no evidence to support that claim.
Meanwhile, Israel has also halted the flow of water from the Mekorot company to Gaza, cutting off about 70% of the enclave’s water supply. Hosni Mehanna, spokesperson for Gaza municipality, said the main pipeline in eastern Gaza City’s Shujayea neighbourhood has been affected amid ongoing Israeli assaults.
“The reasons behind the interruption remain unclear, but we are coordinating with international organisations to inspect whether the pipeline was damaged due to the heavy Israeli bombardment in the area,” Mehanna said.
“Regardless of the cause, the consequences are dire. If the flow of water from Mekorot is not restored soon, Gaza will face a full-blown water crisis,” he added.
