Executive Director of UNICEF, Catherine Russell, has raised serious concerns over the escalating nutrition crisis affecting infants and young children in the Gaza Strip, warning that the situation is becoming increasingly dire as humanitarian access remains heavily restricted.
Russell, in a recent statement, noted that ongoing limitations on the delivery of life-saving aid, including food and medical supplies, are putting the lives of thousands of vulnerable children at extreme risk. She described the conditions in Gaza as catastrophic, highlighting that infants are bearing the brunt of the deepening humanitarian crisis.
According to UNICEF assessments, malnutrition rates among infants in Gaza have surged to alarming levels, with many children suffering from acute wasting and other life-threatening deficiencies due to inadequate access to essential nutrition. The agency also warned that the collapse of healthcare and sanitation systems is compounding the emergency, as families struggle to find clean water, infant formula, and basic medicines.
KIIN360 reports that UNICEF has repeatedly called for unfettered humanitarian access to Gaza, urging all parties to the conflict to uphold international obligations and allow the safe passage of aid to affected populations. The organisation stressed that without immediate and sustained relief, the long-term impact on Gaza’s youngest generation could be devastating and irreversible.
Catherine Russell appealed to the international community to intensify efforts in pressuring for ceasefires, ensuring aid corridors are respected, and scaling up resources for the delivery of urgent nutritional support to children trapped in the conflict.
