GENEVA, December 21, 2025 (WAFA) - Director-General of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said that over 100,000 children and 37,000 pregnant and breastfeeding women in the Gaza Strip are still projected to suffer acute malnutrition through April next year.
This followed the release by UN agencies of the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) report, which warned that at least 1.6 million people in Gaza are facing high levels of acute food insecurity through mid-April 2026.
He warned that, in the worst-case scenarios, including a renewal of the conflict and a halt to humanitarian assistance, the entire Gaza Strip could face the risk of famine by mid-April 2026.
In a post on X, he said that the progress made in combating famine remains extremely fragile as the population continues to struggle with massive infrastructure destruction, collapsed livelihoods and local food production, and restrictions to humanitarian operations.
“At the same time, only 50% of Gaza's health facilities are partially functional and they face shortages of essential supplies and equipment, which are often subject to complex entry procedures and restrictions with many classified as potentially dual-use,” he said.
He continued: “To scale up life-saving services and expand access to care, WHO calls for the urgent and expedited approval and entry of essential medical supplies, equipment and prefabricated hospital structures.”
T.R.
