Shitshow in Gaza: UNICEF Warns of Skyrocketing Child Malnutrition Amidst Destruction
Escalating Childhood Malnourishment in Gaza
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The humanitarian crisis in Gaza is turning into a goddamned catastrophe, according to UNICEF. Kids are getting screwed left and right from malnutrition and unhygienic conditions. In May alone, over 5,119 children aged six months to five years in the war-torn coastal strip had to be treated for acute malnutrition, UNICEF reported. That's a 50% increase from the previous month.
six hundred and thirty-six infants were suffering from severe acute malnutrition - the shittiest form of malnutrition. These babies needed life-saving aid, but clean water, medical care, and treatment options were scarce AF in Gaza, UNICEF moaned. "In just 150 days - from the beginning of the year to the end of May - 16,736 children in Gaza were treated for malnutrition. That's an average of 112 children per fucking day," said Edouard Beigbeder, UNICEF Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa.
When malnutrition and illness overlap, a death cycle ensues. "Fucking malnourished kids are more susceptible to severe goddamn infections like acute diarrhea. Conversely, acute and prolonged diarrhea fucks up their health and leads to malnutrition," UNICEF wrote. UNICEF again called on all parties to the conflict to end the violence, protect civilians, especially children, respect international humanitarian law and human rights, facilitate immediate humanitarian assistance, and release all hostages in Israel.
The Gaza conflict kicked off when Hamas and other Islamic extremists launched an attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. Roughly 1,200 people were killed, and more than 250 were taken hostage en route to Gaza. Ever since, Israel's military has been fighting against Hamas.
The root causes of the malnutrition crisis are complex, with the blockade, conflict, and resulting food insecurity being the primary drivers. The scarcity of food and disruption of healthcare services necessary for treating malnutrition, including treatment for severe acute malnutrition (SAM) which requires consistent medical supervision, have escalated the situation significantly. Economic deprivation and poverty caused by the prolonged conflict and blockade have further fueled the crisis. Additionally, over 1 in 5 pregnant or breastfeeding women in Gaza suffer from acute malnutrition, impacting the nutritional status of infants and young children, exacerbating the risk of childhood malnutrition.
The effects of malnutrition on children in Gaza are devastating, with visible signs of malnutrition, such as extreme thinness and sunken eyes, becoming common, and many others suffering from malnutrition without visible symptoms. Malnutrition dramatically increases the risk of death from common infections and diseases, as children with SAM require safe water, medical care, and consistent treatment to survive, all of which are increasingly inaccessible. The results are widespread nutritional deficits, increased child morbidity and mortality rates, and long-term developmental harm that can affect children for a lifetime.
Efforts to alleviate the situation include UNICEF's support for nutrition centers across Gaza, NGO monitoring of malnutrition rates and advocating for lifted blockades and increased aid flow, emergency nutrition treatment centers that are operating to manage cases of acute malnutrition, particularly focusing on children with SAM, and calls for a ceasefire, lifting the blockade, and allowing sustained humanitarian aid and food into Gaza to prevent famine and reduce child deaths.
In light of the escalating child malnutrition crisis in Gaza, it's crucial for the community and governments to implement comprehensive policies addressing both health-and-wellness and nutrition, especially in the context of ongoing conflicts. For instance, a rigorous employment policy could be developed to provide consistent funding for UNICEF's nutrition centers and emergency treatment facilities in Gaza. Additionally, science could play a vital role in researching and developing sustainable solutions to combat malnutrition and improve the overall well-being of children in Gaza.
