While the World Health Organization (WHO) warned about the existence of a massive famine in that Palestinian territory, the UN Population Fund expressed its concern about the “catastrophic conditions” faced by pregnant women and newborns, including a dysfunctional health system, psychological stress and lack of food.

In the last hours, the WHO director, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, blamed Israel for the acute malnutrition in that territory and remembered that it exceeds 10 percent in the general population, while it rises to 20 percent in pregnant women and infants examined.

WHO director also expressed his concern at the increase in deaths due to this phenomenon and condemned the blockade of humanitarian work.

Since July 17, the centers to treat severe acute malnutrition have been completely overwhelmed and without sufficient supplies for emergency feeding.

So far in 2025, WHO has documented at least 21 deaths from severe acute malnutrition in children under five years of age, he said.

“A large proportion of Gaza’s population is starving. I don’t know what to call it if it’s not mass starvation, and it’s provoked. That is very clear. This is because of the blockade,” he said.

jdt/jav/mem/gas