Prior to the current conflict, less than one percent of Gaza’s children under five years of age were acutely malnourished, but the blockade and war have then led to catastrophic food insecurity, the NGO affirmed.

During our recent visit to the area, we saw many malnourished children who are in need of urgent care,” the group’s health and nutrition coordinator, whose name was withheld for security reasons, stated.

“We are seeing how the shortage of food affects their development: their growth rate is where it should be for their age. Vital organs such as the heart, kidneys and lungs are weak,” he stressed.

He also warned that many children have not received vaccines in the last seven months.

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