Unprecedented concern among medical professionals: Malnourishment symptoms evident in Gaza's patients
In the heart of the ongoing conflict, Gaza City is grappling with a new crisis - famine. The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) has officially declared a state of famine for the first time, citing extreme food deprivation, acute malnutrition, and starvation-related deaths exceeding critical thresholds.
The announcement has been echoed by various reports, including one by a group that organizes medical missions to the Gaza Strip, which describes a "catastrophic rise in severe malnutrition" among children and pregnant women. The U.N.-backed IPC warns that this famine is likely to spread across the territory without a ceasefire and a flood of humanitarian aid.
Over 281 people, including more than 100 children, have died of malnutrition-related causes during the war. At Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, many patients are malnourished due to a shortage of intravenous nutritional supplements. Karam Akoumeh, a patient at Shifa, has lost a significant amount of weight due to hunger and lack of these supplements.
Doctors and experts say that famine first preys on the most vulnerable, including babies and small children. A 17-year-old was brought in with gunshot wounds and severe malnutrition. The MedGlobal report states that one out of every six children in Gaza younger than 5 is now affected by acute malnutrition. This report is based on observations by its staff in four of Gaza's five governorates.
Mohammed Adeel Khaleel, a spinal surgeon who recently arrived at a Gaza City hospital, has observed severe malnutrition among patients. He has seen patients with exposed ribs and severely skinny extremities. Palestinians in Gaza City are struggling to find food, with many eating only once a day.
Israeli officials have stated that some of those said to have died from malnutrition had preexisting conditions. However, the shortage of nutrients outside Gaza City hospitals is severe, with no access to meat, chicken, dairy products, or fruits.
Recently, Israel has allowed more food into Gaza. However, the prices of flour and other food items are still unaffordable for many families. Palestinians are left with few options, resorting to eating only once a day.
The MedGlobal report warns that all young children in Gaza are at risk of starving without intervention. It's a stark reminder of the urgent need for humanitarian aid and a resolution to the ongoing conflict. The crisis in Gaza City is far from over, and the fight against famine and malnutrition continues.
