Gaza is facing a silent epidemic as malnutrition deaths surge amidst aid gridlock and a collapsing healthcare system. A four-year-old boy’s recent death from malnutrition has pushed the total number of malnutrition-related fatalities to 58, according to an Al Jazeera report on May 25, 2025. This grim milestone underscores the dire humanitarian crisis exacerbated by the ongoing Israeli blockade.
Devastating Loss of Life
Adding to the devastation, an Israeli strike on May 24, 2025, killed nine children of a Gaza doctor, as reported by multiple sources including Al Jazeera, BBC, and DAWN.com. The children ranged in age from seven months to 12 years old, highlighting the conflict’s devastating impact on innocent lives.
Aid Delivery Challenges
Despite some aid reaching Gaza after Israel eased an 11-week blockade, significant hurdles remain. The BBC and AP News reported that 90 lorry loads of aid entered Gaza following a three-day delay at a crossing. However, UN aid workers reported on May 21, 2025, that aid trucks were still awaiting permission to move deeper into Gaza, indicating logistical and political obstacles hindering the effective distribution of essential supplies.
Collapsing Healthcare System
The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned of a rapidly collapsing healthcare system in Gaza, further jeopardized by intensified military operations. On May 22, 2025, the WHO reported that four major hospitals had to suspend services due to their proximity to hostilities or evacuation zones. The organization has recorded 28 attacks on healthcare in Gaza during the recent period and 697 attacks since October 2023. With 94% of all hospitals in the Gaza Strip damaged or destroyed, only 2000 hospital beds are available for a population of over 2 million people.
A Critical Situation
The situation in Gaza remains critical, demanding immediate and sustained international attention to address the malnutrition crisis, protect healthcare facilities, and ensure the unimpeded delivery of humanitarian aid.