At Least 66 Children Die of Malnutrition in Gaza as Fuel Shortages Halt Dialysis at Al-Shifa Hospital Affecting 350 Patients

Since October 2023, at least 66 children in the Gaza Strip have died from acute malnutrition amid Israel's ongoing blockade and tightened siege, which has severely restricted the entry of milk, nutritional supplements, food aid, fuel, and medicines. Thousands of children in Gaza suffer from severe malnutrition, with daily hospital admissions reaching approximately 5,000 cases related to nutritional deficiencies. Health officials report a widespread outbreak of diseases and epidemics among children, including concerns about the potential spread of meningitis, exacerbated by the scarcity of food and medical supplies. The health system in Gaza is overwhelmed and on the verge of collapse, struggling with critical shortages of medicines and medical equipment.

The Al-Shifa Medical Complex, Gaza's largest hospital, has suspended kidney dialysis services due to a complete depletion of fuel needed to operate dialysis machines and generators. This suspension endangers the lives of around 350 kidney failure patients and limits intensive care services to only a few hours daily. Hospital directors warn that without immediate fuel resupply, many patients face imminent death. The blockade and ongoing military operations have also resulted in attacks on medical facilities and aid distribution centers, further straining the healthcare infrastructure. International organizations, including UNICEF and Médecins Sans Frontières, have expressed grave concerns about the deteriorating humanitarian and health situation, urging for the unimpeded entry of medical aid and fuel to prevent further loss of life, especially among children and pregnant women. The crisis is compounded by the blockade's impact on chronic disease management, with approximately 300,000 Palestinians in Gaza facing shortages of essential medications.