‘We Couldn’t Find Baby Milk’: Baby Dies of Starvation in Gaza
Three-month-old Yahya tragically died of starvation in Gaza, highlighting the severe food shortages afflicting the region amid ongoing conflict. “My family couldn’t find baby formula or food to feed him,” said his aunt, Najla Al-Najjar.
Dr. Ragheb Warsh Agha from Al-Rantisi Children’s Hospital in Gaza City reported an influx of children suffering from malnutrition and chronic diarrhea due to the scarcity of baby milk. “Hospitals are already overwhelmed by casualties from the conflict. They can’t provide much more help for hunger-related symptoms because of food and medicine shortages,” said Khalil Al-Deqran, spokesperson for the health ministry in Gaza.
In the past 24 hours alone, 15 people have reportedly died of starvation in Gaza, according to doctors cited by Reuters. Palestinian officials say that dozens are now dying of hunger for the first time since strikes began in October 2023.
Gaza’s food stocks have been depleted since supplies were cut off, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis. While Israeli military statistics indicate an average of 146 trucks of aid per day entering Gaza during the war, the United Nations states that a minimum of 600 trucks per day is necessary to meet the needs of Gaza’s population.
At least 101 people, including 80 children, are known to have died of hunger during the conflict, most within the last few weeks, Palestinian officials report. The head of the UN Palestinian refugee agency stated that its staff, doctors, and humanitarian workers are fainting on duty due to hunger and exhaustion.
Humanitarian organizations warn that mass starvation is spreading. On Wednesday, over 100 aid groups, including Doctors Without Borders, Save the Children, and Oxfam, called for an immediate ceasefire, the opening of all land crossings, and the free flow of aid through UN-led mechanisms. “Warehouses with tons of supplies are sitting untouched just outside the territory, and even inside, as they are blocked from accessing or delivering the goods,” they stated.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres expressed deep concern, stating that the “horror” facing Palestinians in Gaza is unprecedented in recent years.
The situation is dire, with approximately 600,000 people suffering from malnutrition, including at least 60,000 pregnant women, according to health officials. Symptoms among those going hungry include dehydration and anemia. Baby formula is in critically short supply, severely impacting infants and young children.
The international community is being urged to take immediate action to prevent further loss of life and alleviate the suffering of Gaza’s residents.
