On World Food Day: Malnutrition rates in Gaza have reached catastrophic levels

Gaza - Ofoq News - The Gaza Ministry of Health said that rates of malnutrition and starvation in the Gaza Strip have reached catastrophic levels that are killing children, the elderly, and vulnerable groups.

She explained that 466 deaths due to malnutrition and starvation have been recorded since 2024, with the sector entering its third year under a war that has made hunger a daily reality.

She indicated that there are expectations that more than 1.4 million citizens (67% of the population) will face food crisis levels or worse until the end of 2026, in continuation of the official declaration of famine in the Gaza Governorate in August 2025.

It reported the death of 157 children due to malnutrition (representing a third of the total deaths from starvation).

She explained that 158,001 cases of acute malnutrition were recorded among children under five years old from 2024 until August 2026 (including 28,716 severe, life-threatening cases).

It confirmed that the mortality rate of children under five years old will rise from 13.6 to 33.4 per thousand live births between 2022 and 2025, and 12.2% of children suffer from stunting.

It is expected that 74,200 children will need treatment for acute malnutrition until April 2027.

She noted that the rate of anemia among pregnant women would rise to 61% in 2026 (up from 41% before the war).

Nearly 4,000 pregnancy losses were recorded in the first half of 2026 (more than 3 times that of the previous six months).

She noted that one in every three pregnancies is classified as high-risk.

The elderly constitute the highest percentage of malnutrition deaths, with 189 elderly people (40.5% of total deaths).

She added: "11% of the elderly did not eat any meal during the entire day, and 48% reduced their portions for the benefit of their families, while 68% of them stopped or reduced their medication doses because they ran out."

The Ministry of Health confirmed that the right to food is a rightAn authentic humanity that does not fall through war, and calls on the international community and the United Nations to take immediate and urgent action to ensure the safe, sustainable and unrestricted entry of food, therapeutic supplements, and medicines.

She called for giving priority to children, pregnant and lactating women, and the elderly.

She called for supporting and reviving local food production in the Gaza Strip.