Gaza: Children remain at risk despite reduction in acute hunger

Key points

• Famine reportedly occurred in August 2025 after two years of Hamas-Israel war that saw Israel severely restrict the entry of food into the Occupied Palestinian Territories and launch an offensive that destroyed 87 percent of agricultural land.
• After a ceasefire in October 2025, Israel allowed more humanitarian aid into Gaza, which in turn saw increased food security
• Further improvements were seen between 31 May and 15 June 2026, with only around one per cent of children now showing signs of acute malnutrition, or severe wasting, but the long-term impacts of acute hunger remain.

Damage from starvation may be permanent

According to the new one UNICEF According to the survey, 12.2 percent – ​​one in eight children – are chronically malnourished, or stunted, reflecting the cumulative toll of more than two years of war, even as humanitarian aid has been increased since a ceasefire in October 2025.

For the last group, the damage may be permanent: Stunting can affect a child’s brain development, learning ability and future health throughout his life.

“Acute malnutrition can improve within weeks,” said Edouard Beigbeder, UNICEF regional director for the Middle East and North Africa. “Wider damage will not occur.”

Mass starvation can be avoided

In August 2025, the UN-backed food insecurity action, IPC, confirmed the existence of famine in Gaza.

At that time, humanitarian access was severely restricted since the war began in 2023, and 17,000 children were treated for acute malnutrition that month in hospitals in Gaza.

Since a ceasefire in October, Israel has eased restrictions on the entry of humanitarian aid, which has helped prevent mass starvation. The same number drops to 3,000 by March 2026However, this is not enough to protect children’s growth and development in the long term.

Babies with low birth weight

Nearly one in 10 women of childbearing age are malnourished, according to the survey. These mothers are at risk of giving birth to low birth weight babies and unknowingly transmitting malnutrition to their children.

In addition, the survey found that breastfeeding rates remain high, but only between 20 and 30 percent of toddlers consume a fairly diverse diet, based on various measures.

“Behind these numbers are children who are not getting the diverse and nutritious foods they need to grow and stay healthy,” UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said on Monday.

Call for continued access to aid

The survey found that sick children in Gaza often cannot access treatment, especially for diarrhea, and vaccination rates do not reach important herd immunity thresholds.

The UNICEF survey measured nearly 1,335 children and interviewed more than 2,000 households, making it representative of Gaza’s population living in easily accessible areas.

“We continue to call for continued and unhindered humanitarian access to the Gaza Stripincluding for fuel, sustainable funding for nutrition, health, water and sanitation services and open commercial markets, so that children and families can get the food and essential services they need to prevent further damage,” said Dujarric.

The underlying condition still exists

UNICEF warned that the situation remains fragile as sustainable humanitarian access is critical.

The findings illustrate what UN agencies have been warning for years: humanitarian aid works in the short term to address crises, but any disruption to aid, new displacement, or disease outbreaks could push acute malnutrition levels back very quickly.

Despite progress, the underlying factors of long-term health, including poor dietary diversity, maternal illness, recurrent childhood illnesses, incomplete vaccination, and deworming, remain.

“Children need clean water, health services, and a diverse and nutritious diet, not just enough calories to surviveMr. Beigbeder said.

A report released by UNICEF in addition to the survey results recommend:

• Keeping malnutrition treatment ongoing in the near future
• Shifting from crisis response to prevention in the medium term
• Rebuilding primary health services and food systems in the long term

Learn more about UN efforts in the Occupied Palestinian Territories Here.