Gaza: The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) on Tuesday warned about the continuing rise in malnutrition rates among children as well as pregnant and breastfeeding women in the Gaza Strip despite the ceasefire.
According to Kuwait News Agency, UNICEF Communications Director Tess Ingram, speaking online from Gaza during a press briefing in Geneva, reported that children are suffering and the number of babies who died on their first day of life increased by 75 percent between 2022 and 2025. The average number of babies born with low birth weight has risen from 250 per month in 2022 to 460 per month before the ceasefire. Ingram warned that this trend is expected to worsen in the coming months due to obstacles imposed by Israeli occupation forces, which restrict the entry of treatment and humanitarian aid.
Ingram also highlighted that more than 9,300 children under five and over 8,000 pregnant and breastfeeding women were treated for acute malnutrition during October alone-a five-fold increase compared to February. Recovery from malnutrition among pregnant and breastfeeding women remains slow compared to children, as mothers are prioritizing feeding their children over their own well-being.
Hospitals in Gaza face significant challenges in caring for underweight and premature newborns due to Israeli occupation restrictions that prevent essential medical supplies from entering the Strip. Ingram called for the simultaneous and consistent opening of all crossings to ensure sufficient aid flow.
She warned that children continue to bear the highest cost of the conflict, noting that over 70 children have been killed in the eight weeks since the ceasefire. WHO spokesperson Christian Lindmeier added that an estimated 4,000 children still require urgent medical evacuation from Gaza, with many dying while waiting. WHO has managed to evacuate 10,620 patients since October 2023, including 5,608 children.