The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has expressed alarm regarding the deteriorating health situation in Gaza, noting that one in five newborns is now being delivered either prematurely or with low birth weight.
The agency attributed the spike to acute malnutrition and prolonged restrictions on food, medicine, and humanitarian aid.
In a statement released on Monday, September 29, UNICEF confirmed it had delivered hygiene supplies to hospitals and clinics in Gaza City this week but stressed that children remain in urgent need of proper nutrition and medical support.
“Palestinian children in Gaza need access to more life-saving nutrition and health services,” it said, reiterating calls for immediate large-scale aid to reach vulnerable families.
The agency also renewed its demand for an immediate ceasefire and unrestricted humanitarian access, describing the blockade imposed on Gaza for nearly two years as the driver of an “unprecedented humanitarian emergency.”
According to local health authorities, famine-related conditions have already caused 422 deaths, including 147 children, as of September 29.
UNICEF warned that without urgent intervention, the number of child deaths is expected to rise sharply.
