A severe malnutrition crisis is deepening in the war-battered Gaza Strip amid restrictions on food and humanitarian aid imposed on Palestinians, according to Doctors Without Borders.
The organisation said pregnant women, newborns and young children are among the worst affected, with data from its supported clinics showing a rise in premature births, miscarriages, low birth weight babies and infant deaths, alongside increasing cases of acute child malnutrition.
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Field workers reported witnessing the crisis firsthand. “We are seeing this every day as we work in the field. We are meeting mothers, we are seeing these premature births and miscarriages, and all of these women are telling us the main reason behind this malnutrition is Israel’s restriction on food,” the statement said.
The group further said that nearly six months into the so-called ceasefire, restrictions on aid entry remain in place despite an agreement allowing 600 trucks of humanitarian assistance to enter Gaza daily.
“In reality, only about 150 trucks are entering, and people here do not have access to food or basic supplies,” it added.
Source: Al Jazeera