Catastrophic health data
The Gaza Strip Health Ministry announced on Friday that 466 Palestinians have died from malnutrition and starvation since 2024, warning that more than 1.4 million people remain at risk of a food crisis until the end of 2026. This came in a statement issued by the ministry on the occasion of World Food Day, observed annually on October 16, highlighting the repercussions of food shortages on vulnerable groups.
Death toll and malnutrition figures
The ministry clarified that the death toll reached 466, including 157 children, who constitute about a third of the total deaths, while there were 189 deaths among the elderly, accounting for 40.5 percent. It also recorded more than 158,000 cases of acute malnutrition among children under five from 2024 until August 2026, including 28,716 severe and critical cases.
Impacts on pregnant women and children
Regarding pregnant women, the rate of anemia rose to 61 percent during 2026, and approximately 4,000 pregnancy loss cases were recorded in the first half of the year, an increase exceeding threefold. The ministry also projected that 74,200 children would need treatment for acute malnutrition until April 2027, amid rising child mortality rates among those under five.
Humanitarian context and demands
UN agencies had previously declared a famine in the Gaza Strip on August 22, 2025, while Israel tightened restrictions on crossings in March 2025 and prevented aid from entering. The Health Ministry called on the international community and the United Nations to take immediate action to ensure the safe and sustainable entry of food and therapeutic supplements without restrictions, prioritizing children, pregnant women, and the elderly.
Source: Anadolu Agency
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