United Nations: Severe Malnutrition Among Children in Gaza Has Reached Highest Level

SadaNews - The level of severe malnutrition among children in the Gaza Strip has reached the highest recorded level, according to an announcement made by the United Nations today, Friday.

Deputy Spokesman for the UN Secretary-General Farhan Haq stated during his daily press conference that the crisis of hunger and malnutrition is increasingly worsening, especially among children in Gaza.

Haq added, warning that "the rates of severe malnutrition among children in Gaza have reached the highest level ever recorded."

He pointed out that in the month of July alone, 136,000 children under the age of five were screened, with 12,000 of them diagnosed with severe malnutrition, including 2,500 children at severe risk to their lives.

He mentioned that this rate represents an 18 percent increase compared to the month of June.

Haq emphasized that the restrictions imposed by Israel on the distribution of humanitarian aid have contributed to deepening the nutrition crisis.

He added that humanitarian workers were only able in July to reach 3 percent of children under the age of five who are in need of assistance.