At Least 66 Children Die of Malnutrition in Gaza Amid Israeli Blockade; Dialysis Services Suspended, 350 Patients at Risk

Medical authorities and humanitarian organizations in Gaza have reported a critical shortage of infant formula amid Israel's ongoing blockade, placing hundreds of premature and newborn babies at imminent risk of death. Since October 2023, at least 66 children have died from malnutrition, with the latest fatalities including infants at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis. The blockade has also caused severe shortages of essential medical supplies and fuel, leading to the suspension of kidney dialysis services at Gaza's largest medical complex, Al-Shifa Medical Complex. This suspension endangers the lives of approximately 350 patients reliant on dialysis.

Hospitals face extreme shortages of medicines and fuel, limiting intensive care services to only a few hours daily. Health officials warn of a spreading meningitis outbreak and the proliferation of epidemics among malnourished children. Thousands of children in Gaza suffer from acute malnutrition, with 112 new cases diagnosed daily. The United Nations and other humanitarian agencies have issued warnings about an impending humanitarian catastrophe if fuel and medical aid deliveries do not resume. The Palestinian Ministry of Health and medical directors have called for urgent international intervention to alleviate the worsening health crisis exacerbated by the blockade and ongoing military operations.