Gaza's Children Suffer Severe Malnutrition Amid Israeli Blockade and Aid Suspension

As Israel's blockade and bombardment of Gaza enter their seventh week, humanitarian organizations report a severe crisis. Nearly all aid services are suspended, leaving children with less than one meal a day. Food, water, and medical supplies are nearly depleted, with 95% of aid operations halted due to airstrikes and ground assaults. The UN and major NGOs warn of a potential collapse of the humanitarian system. Over 3,600 children were treated for acute malnutrition in March, and aid workers face significant risks, with over 400 killed since October 2023.

Malnutrition Surges Among Gaza’s Children

In the war-torn enclave of Gaza, thousands of children are now suffering from acute malnutrition. According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), over 3,600 children were newly admitted for treatment for acute malnutrition in March alone—an alarming increase from 2,000 the previous month. Aid workers report that children are surviving on canned beans and vegetables, with fresh food virtually nonexistent in markets.

Bushra Khalil, policy head at Oxfam, described the situation starkly: “Kids are eating less than a meal a day and struggling to find their next meal. Malnutrition and pockets of famine are definitely occurring in Gaza” Children in Gaza survive on ‘less than a meal a day’: Aid groups.

Humanitarian System Near Collapse

The heads of 12 major aid organizations, including Oxfam and Save the Children, issued a joint statement warning that the humanitarian aid system in Gaza is “facing total collapse.” Since Israel imposed a full blockade on March 2, the entry of all food, water, and medical supplies has been halted. The blockade, combined with intensified Israeli military operations, has made it nearly impossible for aid workers to operate safely.

Amande Bazerolle, emergency coordinator for Doctors Without Borders, said aid workers are “carrying the impossible burden of providing relief with depleted supplies.” She added, “This is not a humanitarian failure – it is a political choice, and a deliberate assault on a people’s ability to survive, carried out with impunity” Children in Gaza survive on ‘less than a meal a day’: Aid groups.

Food and Water Scarcity

With humanitarian aid blocked, markets have become the only source of food—but prices have skyrocketed, and fresh produce is nearly unavailable. The World Food Programme (WFP) reports that 80% of Gaza’s population now relies on humanitarian aid as their primary food source. Charity kitchens, which have become lifelines for many, are overwhelmed. According to OCHA, these kitchens can only prepare one million meals per day for a population of over two million, and the meals consist mostly of rice or pasta without vegetables or meat Thousands of Gaza children are malnourished under Israel’s food blockade, aid groups say.

Water is also critically scarce. Omar Shatat, a local water utility official, said people are down to six or seven liters per day—well below the U.N.’s minimum requirement for basic needs. Long lines form daily as residents wait to fill jerry cans from water trucks Thousands of children malnourished under Israel’s siege.

Medical Services Decimated

The health system in Gaza has been devastated by repeated Israeli strikes. According to the World Health Organization, Israel has carried out at least 670 attacks on Gaza’s healthcare infrastructure, including hospitals, ambulances, and medical personnel. These attacks have killed at least 886 people and rendered most medical facilities inoperable Zero care left: UN says Israel has destroyed Gaza’s last hospital amid mass graves and paramedic executions.

Only around 100 of the original 173 treatment sites for malnourished children remain functional. In March, aid workers were able to reach just 22,300 children under five with nutrient supplements—a 70% drop from the previous month Thousands of children malnourished under Israel’s siege.

Aid Workers Under Fire

Gaza has become the deadliest place on earth for humanitarian workers. Since October 2023, more than 400 aid workers and 1,300 health workers have been killed. The recent discovery of 15 Palestinian paramedics buried in a mass grave has drawn international condemnation, but many such incidents go unreported Children in Gaza survive on ‘less than a meal a day’: Aid groups.

Israel has largely stopped coordinating with humanitarian groups, leaving aid convoys vulnerable to airstrikes. COGAT, the Israeli military agency responsible for aid coordination, confirmed it had suspended the system that previously allowed for safe passage of humanitarian workers Thousands of Gaza children are malnourished under Israel’s food blockade, aid groups say.

Families in Desperation

On the ground, the suffering is palpable. In Deir al-Balah, a pregnant mother told PBS, “The simplest thing we need is food, and I can't guarantee that for my children. We're not even living in a tent, but besides a tent on the street near garbage” War in the Holy Land.

Outside Al-Aqsa Hospital, families shared stories of children dying from malnutrition and preventable diseases. Fadi Ahmed recounted how his son died after developing severe lung infections and oxygen deprivation due to extreme weakness. Intisar Hamdan, a grandmother, said her grandson died after going three days without milk Children in Gaza survive on ‘less than a meal a day’: Aid groups.

International Response and Warnings

U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres has called the conditions in Gaza “unsustainable,” warning that “as aid has dried up, the floodgates of horror have reopened” War in the Holy Land. The U.N. and aid organizations continue to call for immediate, unfettered access to Gaza to deliver life-saving assistance.

Despite these appeals, Israeli officials maintain that the blockade is necessary to pressure Hamas into releasing hostages. They deny that there is a shortage of aid in Gaza and accuse Hamas of withholding supplies. However, both the U.N. and the World Food Programme report no evidence of aid diversion and confirm that supplies are running out Gaza aid shortage: Israel blockade, hunger.

References

• Children in Gaza survive on ‘less than a meal a day’: Aid groups
• Thousands of Gaza children are malnourished under Israel’s food blockade, aid groups say - The Boston Globe
• Thousands of children malnourished under Israel’s siege
• ‘Zero care left’: UN says Israel has destroyed Gaza’s last hospital amid mass graves and paramedic executions | NationofChange
• PBS News Hour | Israel deepens assault on Gaza while blocking aid | Season 2025
• Aid groups describe dire conditions in Gaza as Israel says there is no shortage of aid