Systematic Starvation

Since March 2, 2025, when Israel imposed a full aid blockade on Gaza, the humanitarian crisis has worsened dramatically. In just a few months, at least 57 children have died from malnutrition, and health experts warn that up to 71,000 children under five could become acutely malnourished in the coming year. The World Health Organization (WHO) says it only has enough supplies left inside Gaza to treat 500 children, a tiny fraction of those who need help. With no food, clean water, or medicine getting in, half a million people are now facing starvation, and the entire population of 2.1 million is living with severe food shortages.

Doctors and aid workers describe a terrifying cycle: hunger weakens people’s immune systems, making even common illnesses like diarrhea or respiratory infections deadly, especially for children. Pregnant and breastfeeding women are also at extreme risk. With nearly 17,000 mothers expected to need urgent treatment for malnutrition, many can no longer produce enough milk to nourish their babies. Without formula or clean water, these infants face life-threatening hunger and disease.

The long-term effects of this crisis could last a lifetime. Children who survive may suffer from stunted growth, impaired brain development, and chronic health problems. WHO warns that this is a generational emergency—millions of lives and futures are being lost.

Although Israeli authorities recently proposed limited food distribution through aid hubs, the United Nations and aid agencies say this is nowhere near enough to meet the urgent needs of the population. Life-saving medical supplies are sitting in trucks just outside Gaza, ready for delivery, but they can’t get in.