Gaza: Europe and the Arabs
Thousands of children in Gaza are at risk of severe malnutrition, with around 15,000 children diagnosed with malnutrition, including 3,288 children suffering from severe acute malnutrition, after examining around 240,000 children in the Strip since the beginning of this year.

The World Health Organization supports the malnutrition treatment center at Kamal Adwan Hospital, north of Gaza, which is one of four facilities operating in this field in the Strip. According to the UN daily news bulletin issued today, Saturday

Hossam Abu Safia, the hospital director, says: "Up until now, we have counted around 5,000 children. A third of the cases have symptoms of malnutrition. 25 percent of these cases did not undergo intensive treatment because these cases were classified as malnutrition with complications. Now these cases are in the malnutrition treatment department at Kamal Adwan Hospital. The influx of cases with their complications means that this is a stop - God forbid - before death."
Hussam Abu Safiya warned of the future impact of malnutrition on children and added: "Most of the cases that come in have advanced and late symptoms, and therefore this matter needs to be taken seriously and all the required medicines, foods, and therapeutic milk for these cases must be brought in. All foods must be allowed in. It is no secret to you that northern Gaza has flour and some canned foods, but there are no vegetables, fruits, oils, or meat, and of course all of this has a future impact on children's bodies. This problem will remain unless the food problem is resolved."

Stories of Mothers of Sick Children

Mothers tell painful stories about their children who suffer in the absence of the ability to obtain appropriate food. “My daughter started showing symptoms after she was a month old, and when she was about 40 days old, she was admitted to the hospital with severe diarrhea. Every time she breastfed, she would vomit up anything immediately. Although the doctors did not diagnose her condition, they told me that she might have a milk allergy, and they told me that she should have a special milk, which is not available in Gaza. So they gave me a protein-free milk,” says Maysoun Aql, the mother of sick child Malak.

Despite the importance of vegetables and fruits, they remain out of reach for mothers like Maysoun Aql: “It is essential for me to eat fruits and vegetables because they contain all the vitamins and are essential for the mother and the child. Unfortunately, fruits and vegetables are not available in northern Gaza. There is only canned food. Meat is also unavailable.”

“I am afraid for my son from going hungry”

Dina Al-Rawahi Ziada, the mother of child Ahmed, says: “My child was born on January 6, 2024, and his current weight is five kilograms. “We went to the nutrition department at Kamal Adwan Hospital because he was losing weight instead of gaining it. As you know, a child should start eating fruits and vegetables after he reaches the age of 7 months. Of course, none of this is available in the northern Gaza Strip. As for the mother’s nutrition, it is also essential, but there is currently no healthy food available, and even the water is almost completely polluted.” Dina Al-Rawahi expressed concern for her son’s safety and health: “A mother’s fear for her child is immeasurable. I fear for my son from the war more than anything else. I fear for him from hunger, poor health, and the bad conditions we are in, and of course this affects me personally and psychologically.”