In the Gaza Strip, tens of thousands of preschool-aged children are suffering from severe food shortages, threatening their young lives.
A comprehensive study that spanned 20 months on child wasting in the Gaza Strip revealed that as of August this year, over 54,600 children were identified as acutely malnourished, with almost 13,000 classified as severely malnourished. The proportion of malnourished children has varied from January 2024 to August 2025, showing an upward trend corresponding to war-related constraints on humanitarian assistance, as detailed in a report released on October 8 in the journal Lancet.
When a child’s body lacks sufficient energy and protein, it begins to deplete its own tissues, starting with fat reserves and then muscle. This results in impaired physiological functions, including weakened immune response, making the body more susceptible to infections. The dangers of malnutrition escalate over time, with increased mortality risk as wasting intensifies.
One effective method of assessing malnutrition is by measuring the circumference of a child’s arm between the shoulder and elbow. An arm circumference ranging from 115 millimeters to just under 125 millimeters indicates acute wasting, while severe wasting is defined by a circumference below 115 millimeters.
Personnel from the U.N. Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East conducted monthly arm circumference measurements at various health centers, school shelters, and tent camps throughout the Gaza Strip. In total, approximately 220,000 children aged 6 to 59 months were assessed, representing roughly two-thirds of the estimated 346,000 preschool-aged children living in the region.
The findings indicated that August 2025 experienced the highest level of acute wasting, with nearly 16 percent of the children screened falling into that category, following ongoing severe limitations on food, water, medication, and fuel. Similarly, around 14 percent of the children screened in January 2025 were found to be acutely malnourished, also coinciding with stringent aid restrictions.
Addressing wasting requires the provision of nutrient-dense therapeutic foods, and in some cases, hospitalization may be necessary.
