The U.N. children’s agency says most young children and pregnant women in the Gaza Strip are not able to meet their basic nutrition needs. A survey by UNICEF released Friday found that 90% of children under age 2 are eating two or fewer food groups each day, mainly bread or milk. A quarter of pregnant women said they only eat from one food group per day.
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Key points from UNICEF’s report on nutrition in the Gaza Strip:
- Most young children and pregnant women in Gaza are unable to meet basic nutritional needs.
- Since the start of the war on Oct. 7, after Hamas’ attack into southern Israel, only limited humanitarian aid has entered Gaza.
- Daily aid truck entries have reduced to fewer than 200, less than half the level before the war.
- UNICEF’s survey shows that 90% of children under two are consuming insufficient food variety, mainly bread or milk.
- A quarter of pregnant women in Gaza eat from only one food group daily.
- There is a significant increase in diarrhea cases among children under five, indicating poor nutrition.
- Israeli authorities claim there is enough food in Gaza and that they have facilitated aid entry, attributing shortages to U.N. agencies.
- U.N. officials state that aid operations are affected by Israeli inspections, conflict, and road closures in Gaza, advocating for a humanitarian cease-fire.
The Associated Press has the story:
UNICEF: Nutrition needs for children and pregnant women are unmet in Gaza
Newslooks- JERUSALEM — (AP)
The U.N. children’s agency says most young children and pregnant women in the Gaza Strip are not able to meet their basic nutrition needs.
Only a trickle of humanitarian aid has entered the Palestinian territory Oct. 7, when Hamas’ deadly attack into southern Israel ignited the war. Fewer than 200 aid trucks enter each day, less than half the prewar level, and aid groups say the fighting hinders distribution.
A survey by UNICEF released Friday found that 90% of children under age 2 are eating two or fewer food groups each day, mainly bread or milk. A quarter of pregnant women said they only eat from one food group per day.
U.N. officials previously said that one in four Gazans were enduring famine-like levels of starvation.
UNICEF says cases of diarrhea among children under 5 have risen from 48,000 to 71,000, an indication of poor nutrition. Normally, only 2,000 cases of diarrhea are reported each month in the Gaza Strip.
Israeli authorities say there is enough food in the territory, and that they have taken the necessary steps to allow aid in, blaming any shortages on U.N. bodies.
U.N. officials say aid operations are hindered by the Israeli inspections, as well as fighting and road closures within the territory, and have long been calling for a humanitarian cease-fire.
