Gaza Faces Devastating Malnutrition Crisis: UNRWA Chief Denounces “War on Children”
Gaza City, August 13, 2025 – The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) has issued a grave warning about the escalating malnutrition crisis in Gaza, highlighting a disturbing increase in deaths attributed to the severe lack of essential food and medical supplies. UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini described the situation as the “latest in the war on children,” underscoring the devastating impact of the ongoing conflict and humanitarian blockade on the most vulnerable population.
The alarming reports emerge against a backdrop of widespread destruction and displacement across Gaza, severely disrupting access to food, clean water, and healthcare. Lazzarini’s statement paints a grim picture of children succumbing to preventable causes, a direct consequence of the collapse of essential services and the inability of humanitarian agencies to reach those most in need with adequate life-saving assistance.
“The reports of children dying from malnutrition in Gaza are a tragic testament to the devastating impact of the current situation,” stated a UNRWA spokesperson, reflecting the sentiment of the agency’s leadership. “This is not merely a humanitarian crisis; it is a profound moral failing that demands immediate and decisive action from the international community.”
The agency has repeatedly emphasized the critical need for unimpeded access for humanitarian aid, including food, medicine, and nutritional supplements. UNRWA staff on the ground are working tirelessly under extremely challenging conditions to provide assistance, but their efforts are being severely hampered by logistical obstacles and the sheer scale of the devastation.
The increasing number of malnutrition-related deaths signifies a critical turning point, pushing the already dire situation in Gaza to an even more catastrophic level. Experts have long warned about the devastating long-term consequences of malnutrition on children’s physical and cognitive development, even for those who survive. The current crisis threatens to inflict irreversible damage on an entire generation.
UNRWA is calling for an immediate ceasefire and the sustained, safe, and unimpeded delivery of humanitarian assistance to all parts of Gaza. The agency reiterates its commitment to supporting the Palestinian people, but stresses that without a significant and immediate improvement in access and the flow of essential supplies, the humanitarian catastrophe will continue to deepen, with devastating consequences for the children of Gaza. The international community is urged to heed these desperate calls and to take all necessary steps to alleviate the suffering and protect the lives of innocent civilians.
Malnutrition deaths mark ‘latest in the war on children’ in Gaza: UNRWA chief
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