<h1> Over the past ten months, Doctors of the World has monitored the evolution of acute malnutrition among children and pregnant and breastfeeding women in its six active health centres in the besieged Gaza Strip. </h1>
In 2024, nearly one in four infants under one year of age and 19% of pregnant or breastfeeding women were identified as suffering from acute malnutrition*.
- In November 2024, the rate of acute malnutrition among children reached 17%, the highest level recorded in 2024. This increase coincided with the drastic drop in the number of humanitarian aid trucks allowed to enter the enclave in October 2024. For comparison, in 2022, only 0.8% of children under five in Gaza suffered from acute malnutrition according to the WHO.
- The truce that came into effect on January 19, 2025 led to a partial lifting of Israeli restrictions and an increase in the entry of food supplies. As a result, acute malnutrition rates among children dropped sharply, from 17% in November 2024 to 2.7% in February 2025.
- These gains were very quickly reversed with the total blockade of aid imposed since March 2, 2025, followed by the resumption of hostilities by the Israeli army on March 18, in violation of the ceasefire agreement. In April 2025, one in five pregnant or breastfeeding women and nearly one in four children examined in Doctors of the World centres were suffering from acute malnutrition or were at high risk of acute malnutrition.
<h2> Children and pregnant or breastfeeding women are enduring an injustice entirely created by the humanitarian crisis, which has become a profound crisis of humanity. Using hunger as a weapon of war is morally unacceptable.</h2>
After more than 15 months of military offensive and Israeli siege on Gaza, acute malnutrition among children, pregnant women, and breastfeeding women reported in the governorates of Deir Al Balah and Khan Younis in Gaza reached levels similar to those in Yemen (around 11.5% in 2024 in clinics supported by Doctors of the World), a country that has been suffering from war for over a decade and is among the most affected by food insecurity in the world according to UNICEF.
“Children suffering from acute malnutrition become swollen and lose their hair and muscle tissue, and experience persistent diarrhoea,” said Nadja Pollaert, Executive Director of Doctors of the World Canada. “Children and pregnant or breastfeeding women are enduring an injustice entirely created by the humanitarian crisis, which has become a profound crisis of humanity. Using hunger as a weapon of war is morally unacceptable. Some states have the power to act to prevent this suffering, but they remain passive, raising serious questions about their responsibility under international law. Over two million people are living in an intolerable situation. These people, by choice or inaction, are being denied humanitarian aid to which they are entitled. Canada, like the international community, has a duty to respond and must respond to this tragedy of hunger.”
The finding is clear: this food crisis, endangering the lives of thousands of people, is man-made and stems from the decisions of Israeli authorities to partially allow or completely block humanitarian aid to Gaza.
* According to the World Health Organization (WHO), a malnutrition rate of 10% is high, and a rate of 15% is critical.
Note to editors:
- From July 2024 to April 2025, Doctors of the World screened 10,740 children aged 6 to 59 months and 3,963 pregnant and breastfeeding women as part of its nutrition program in the Gaza Strip, within its 6 primary health care centres located in the governorates of Deir Al Balah, Khan Younis, Gaza, and Rafah.
- This report is based solely on data collected by Doctors of the World’s direct operations in Gaza and therefore provides only a partial overview of the widespread hunger caused by the siege and military offensive by Israeli authorities.
- While highlighting the human nature of the food crisis in Gaza, Doctors of the World is not in a position to declare a famine, as this would require comprehensive health data across the entire territory – data that the NGO does not possess. Regardless of the terminology used, the situation described in this report is extreme and requires urgent action from third-party states.
Media contact:
Mélissa Cabana
Director of Communications
Doctors of the World Canada
melissa.cabana@medecinsdumonde.ca
514-799-8985