New York (UNA/WAFA) – The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said that thousands of children have been admitted to hospitals for treatment of acute malnutrition in Gaza since the ceasefire last October.
UNICEF confirmed that 9300 children received treatment for acute malnutrition in October.
UNICEF spokeswoman Tess Ingram told a news conference in Geneva that although the number had fallen from its peak of over 14 children last August, it was still far higher than the levels recorded during the brief ceasefire in February and March, confirming that aid flows were still insufficient.
Ingram said: “The situation is clear: women who are malnourished have given birth to premature or low-birth-weight babies who die in intensive care units, or live and suffer from malnutrition or health complications.”
She added: “In October, we received 8300 pregnant and lactating women for treatment of acute malnutrition, which is about 270 per day in an area where no cases of malnutrition among pregnant women had been recorded before October 2023.”
The spokesperson expressed regret “for the obstacles imposed by the Israeli authorities preventing the entry of some basic medical supplies into the Gaza Strip,” and called for the opening of the Rafah crossing to humanitarian aid.
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