The skin began to hang: due to malnutrition, children in the Gaza Strip are diagnosed with exhaustion – UN – News
[ad_1]
The food crisis in the Palestinian enclave is reaching a critical level
Ibrahim Abu Mustafa/REUTERS
In the Gaza Strip, medics use special plastic strips to measure the circumferences of children’s hands for “the presence of signs of exhaustion.” Initial data indicate that 5% of children under the age of five are acutely malnourished.
As Reuters writes, after several months of Israel’s military campaign, the food crisis in the Palestinian enclave has reached a critical level.
The lack of sufficient food and, as a result, critical malnutrition is the reason for the surge of diseases in Gaza, according to Dr. Muhammad Abu Sultan, one of the doctors from the Medglobal group, which cooperates with the UN children’s agency UNICEF.
Thus, due to malnutrition, a 2-year-old girl significantly lost weight – from 11 to 7 kilograms. As her mother Hana Tabash told journalists, the child’s skin began to hang down, and there was also a delay in development.
A Palestinian boy has his hand measured
“I used to give her medication and supplements, but with the current situation I am unable to do soTabash said.
UNICEF regional communications chief Ammar Ammar said the number of children whose lives are at risk due to malnutrition will increase in Gaza in the coming weeks. Their number is estimated at at least 10,000 people. The problem is also exacerbated by the lack of clean drinking water.
“There are also direct effects of food insecurity on physical development, cognitive ability, school performance and productivity later in life“, Ammar added.
Initial data indicate that 5% of children under the age of five are acutely malnourished
Humanitarian organizations have accused Israel of obstructing the delivery of aid to Gaza. The hunger crisis is believed to be much worse in the more difficult-to-reach northern areas.
However, Israel denies any restrictions on the flow of humanitarian aid to Gaza and explains the problems with the distribution capabilities of the UN.
It will be recalled that the conflict began on October 7, when Hamas militants stormed the border defenses in the south of Israel, killed about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took 253 hostages.
The Health Ministry in Hamas-run Gaza has said more than 8,700 people have been killed in Israeli strikes. The same figures were mentioned in the UN.
[ad_2]
Original Source Link
