Gaza Hospitals Overwhelmed by Malnutrition Crisis
Alarming Human Toll:
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At Al-Rantisi Hospital in Gaza City, a nine-year-old girl, Maryam Dawas, has seen her weight plummet from 25 kg to just 9 kg—the size of a child less than one year old. Doctors describe her condition as severe protein-energy malnutrition and malabsorption.Sky News
Overrun Health Facilities:
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A recent UN OCHA report recorded nearly 13,000 new admissions of children with acute malnutrition in July alone, spotlighting a dramatic surge in cases that regional hospitals are simply unable to manage.Sky News
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UN officials have warned that hospitals across Gaza are overflowing, with limited capacity being pushed beyond breaking.dppa.un.org
Worsening Malnutrition Trends:
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WHO data shows that almost 1 in 5 children under five in Gaza City are suffering from acute malnutrition. Rates have tripled since June, particularly in Khan Younis and the Middle Area.Organisation mondiale de la santé
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Therapeutic malnutrition treatment centers are operating well past capacity, facing shortages in essential supplies and fuel, which could lead to further system collapse if not urgently addressed.Organisation mondiale de la santé
Final Takeaway
The situation in Gaza has deteriorated into a severe malnutrition emergency. Hospitals are overwhelmed, children are starving, and specialized treatment centers are being stretched beyond endurance. Without uninterrupted delivery of nutritious food and medical supplies, the health system—and the lives it serves—hang by a thread.
