UN humanitarians demand urgent action as over 100 children have died of malnutrition in Gaza

UNITED NATIONS, Aug. 11 (Xinhua) -- UN humanitarians on Monday demanded urgent action as Gaza's health authorities reported that more than 100 children have died from malnutrition since the war began in October 2023.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said its relief partners in Gaza described surpassing the 100 deaths as a "devastating milestone that shames the world and demands long overdue urgent action."

More than 300,000 children remain at severe risk, and more than a third of the Gaza population reports not eating for days at a time, the World Food Programme said.

It said that to meet the basic humanitarian food assistance needs in Gaza, more than 62,000 tonnes are required every month. So far, humanitarians have not been permitted to bring in enough supplies to support the survival of the 2 million people in Gaza.

OCHA said the United Nations and its partners reported they were able to collect some food, fuel and supplies, including hygiene kits, from the Kerem Shalom/Karem Abu Salem crossing on Sunday. However, the supplies were offloaded before the trucks reached their destination.

The office said the fuel also transited the same crossing.

OCHA said the Israeli authorities allow an average of approximately 150,000 liters daily. It remains far below the minimum required to sustain life-saving operations. The Palestine Civil Defense reported that more than half of its ambulances have stopped operating across Gaza, due to a shortage of fuel and spare parts.

The Food and Agriculture Organization last week warned that only 1.5 percent of cropland in Gaza is both accessible and undamaged, signaling a near-total collapse of the local food system.

Ramesh Rajasingham, director of OCHA's Coordination Division, in a rare Sunday UN Security Council session, described humanitarian conditions in Gaza as "beyond horrific."

He also expressed deep concern over the prolonged conflict and reports of atrocities and a further human toll that is likely to unfold following Israel's decision to expand military operations in Gaza, calling it a "grave escalation in a conflict that has already inflicted unimaginable suffering."

Rajasingham said that whatever lifelines remain in Gaza are collapsing under the weight of sustained hostilities, forced displacement, and insufficient levels of life-saving aid.

Also on Sunday, Israeli forces struck a tent in front of Al Shifa Hospital and killed six journalists inside. Since the outbreak of the war in October 2023, more than 240 journalists have been killed. OCHA reiterated that all civilians, including journalists, must be protected under international humanitarian law. ■