The incidence of acute malnutrition in northern Gaza indicates a severe and rapid decline in the nutritional status of children under two years of age in the past three months that is unprecedented worldwide, the United Nations warned today.
Photo: taken by PL
The speed of deterioration in #Gaza is unprecedented. Almost 3 out of 4 people drink contaminated water. Diseases are increasing. According to reports, 1.7 million people are displaced and many are seeking refuge in UNRWA facilities.
According to figures published by the organization, one in six children under two years old in the north of the enclave suffers from acute malnutrition, while almost three percent suffer from severe wasting, putting their lives in greater danger and the possibility of medical complications and death, it is because they receive urgent treatment.
The report, “Analysis of the Nutrition Situation and Vulnerability in Gaza,” states that before the outbreak of hostilities in the Gaza Strip, wasting was rare, affecting just 0.8 percent of children under five.
“The 15.6 percent wasting rate among children under 2 years of age in northern Gaza indicates a serious and rapid decline,” warned the text, prepared by the United Nations Children's Fund, the World Food Program and the World Health Organization. Such a decline in the nutritional status of a population within three months is unprecedented worldwide, the study confirmed.
However, the current statistics could be worse since the data was collected in January.
The report confirms that, according to similar research in southern Gaza, in Rafah, five percent of children under the age of two suffer from acute malnutrition.
“This is clear evidence that access to humanitarian assistance is necessary and can help prevent the worst consequences,” the document added, emphasizing calls to protect this district from the threat of increased military operations by the Israel Defense Forces .
Authorities assessed the risk of a further increase in malnutrition across the Gaza Strip as high due to worrisome shortages of food, water, and health and nutrition services.
90 percent of children under two and 95 percent of pregnant and breastfeeding women experience severe food poverty – having two or fewer food groups the previous day – while the foods available to them have the lowest nutritional value.
95 percent of households limit meals and portion sizes and 64 percent of families eat only one meal per day.
Meanwhile, more than 95 percent limited the amount of food adults received to ensure the nutrition of their little ones.