The escalating blockade in Gaza has created catastrophic food shortages, killing dozens of children and putting nearly half a million people at risk of famine.
At a Glance
- The blockade in Gaza has created severe food shortages, risking a humanitarian disaster
- 57 children have died from malnutrition, a number that is expected to increase substantially
- WHO is calling for urgent international intervention to address the crisis
- Three-quarters of the population faces “Emergency” or “Catastrophic” levels of deprivation
The Humanitarian Blockade
Since March 2025, Israel’s tightened blockade on Gaza has cut off critical supplies of food, water, and medicine to its 2.1 million residents, pushing the region into what the World Health Organization calls a “life-threatening” crisis. Nearly 500,000 people are now facing famine, according to WHO assessments, as the humanitarian corridor remains largely closed.
Watch a report: Starvation crisis unfolds in Gaza under blockade.
The consequences are already devastating. At least 57 children have died from malnutrition since the blockade intensified, and experts warn that this number could escalate dramatically without swift intervention. WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus emphasized, “We do not need to wait for a declaration of famine in Gaza to know that people are already starving, sick and dying, while food and medicines are minutes away across the border.”
Impact on Vulnerable Populations
Children under five and pregnant or breastfeeding women are the most acutely affected. Malnutrition at these early life stages leads to irreversible developmental harm, including stunted growth, cognitive impairments, and heightened disease susceptibility. The WHO estimates that around 71,000 children in Gaza are at imminent risk of acute malnutrition.
Dr. Rik Peeperkorn of WHO warns that “without enough nutritious food, clean water, [and] access to health care, an entire generation will be permanently affected.” He notes that healthcare systems are crumbling under the weight of the crisis, with shortages in supplies and staff compounded by attacks on medical infrastructure. Aid groups say many hospitals lack the resources to treat children with severe acute malnutrition and related infections.
Global Pressure Mounts
International organizations, including the United Nations and WHO, are urgently demanding that Israel allow unrestricted humanitarian access into Gaza. Currently, 31 aid trucks remain stalled in Egypt, and vital resources stockpiled in the West Bank are similarly held back, awaiting clearance. Aid convoys that have entered Gaza represent only “a fraction of the urgent need,” according to WHO officials.
Despite Israel’s claims of facilitating limited aid, the delivery scale is nowhere near sufficient to meet the demands of a population teetering on the brink of starvation. “Malnutrition weakens the bodies, making it harder to heal from injuries and fight off common communicable diseases,” WHO said in a statement. These conditions further erode Gaza’s ability to withstand a prolonged humanitarian emergency.
As pressure builds on the international community to act, failure to secure a steady flow of life-saving aid could spell irreversible tragedy for thousands more. The time to avert full-scale famine is rapidly slipping away.
