NEW YORK, July 24, 2025 (WAFA) — The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) has reported a sharp rise in child malnutrition in Gaza, stating that one out of every five children is now affected.

According to UNRWA Commissioner General Philippe Lazzarini, most of the children arriving at its clinics are visibly weak and suffering from severe wasting, placing them at high risk of death without urgent medical intervention. The agency also confirmed that over 100 people, the vast majority of them children, have died from hunger-related causes.

Lazzarini noted that the crisis is impacting entire families, and that parents are too malnourished themselves to provide adequate care for their children. Health workers are also struggling under the weight of the crisis, as the war-torn region faces critical shortages of supplies and staff.

UNRWA called for unrestricted and continuous access for humanitarian aid into Gaza. The agency added that it currently has around 6,000 aid trucks loaded with food and medical supplies stationed in Jordan and Egypt, awaiting clearance to enter the territory.

M.N