The humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip continues to deepen, with starvation and malnutrition-related deaths reportedly reaching 466 since 2024, including 157 children, according to figures released by Gaza’s Health Ministry and published by the Palestinian Information Center (PIC) on Friday. In a statement marking World Food Day, the ministry warned that malnutrition had reached catastrophic levels, with more than 1.4 million Palestinians—approximately 67 per cent of Gaza’s population—facing acute food insecurity or worse.
The figures also highlight the growing impact of the crisis on young children. According to the ministry, 158,001 cases of acute malnutrition were recorded among children under five between 2024 and August 2026, including 28,716 severe cases. An estimated 74,200 children are expected to require treatment for acute malnutrition by April 2027.
Children, Pregnant Women and Elderly People Among the Most Vulnerable
The ministry reported a sharp deterioration in maternal and child health indicators. Deaths among children under five reportedly increased from 13.6 per 1,000 live births in 2022 to 33.4 in 2025. Older people and pregnant women are also facing heightened risks. The ministry recorded 189 starvation-related deaths among elderly people, while anaemia among pregnant women reportedly rose to 61 per cent in 2026, compared with 41 per cent before the war. Nearly 4,000 pregnancy losses were also reported during the first half of 2026, with one in three pregnancies classified as high-risk, according to the ministry.
Call for Urgent International Intervention
Gaza’s Health Ministry has urged the international community and the United Nations to ensure the safe, sustained and unrestricted entry of food, medicines and therapeutic nutritional supplies into the territory. It called for priority assistance for children, pregnant and breastfeeding women, and elderly people, while emphasising the need to restore local food production.
The crisis underscores the importance of sustained humanitarian access and adequate medical support for vulnerable communities. The latest figures, published by the Palestinian Information Center, are attributed to Gaza’s Health Ministry and have not been independently verified in this report. As the international community marks World Food Day, the situation in Gaza raises renewed concerns about food security, public health and the urgent need to protect civilians affected by the continuing conflict.