Gaza sees highest monthly number of acute malnutrition cases, says WHO

AL-Monitor
Aug 7, 2025
FILE PHOTO: Palestinians wait to receive food from a charity kitchen, amid a hunger crisis, in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, August 4, 2025. REUTERS/Hatem Khaled/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Palestinians wait to receive food from a charity kitchen, amid a hunger crisis, in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, August 4, 2025. REUTERS/Hatem Khaled/File Photo — Hatem Khaled

GENEVA (Reuters) -Gaza has seen its highest monthly figure of acute malnutrition in children, with hunger-related deaths rising in the enclave, the Director General of the World Health Organization said on Thursday.

"In July, nearly 12,000 children under five years were identified as having acute malnutrition in Gaza, the highest monthly figure ever recorded, says director general of world health organization," said WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus at its headquarters in Geneva.

At least 99 people have died, including 64 adults and 35 children, including 29 below 5-years old since the start of this year to July 29, Tedros said.

Some 2,500 of those children are suffering from severe malnutrition, according to the WHO.

"The overall volume of nutrition supplies remains completely insufficient to prevent further deterioration. The market needs to be flooded. There needs to be dietary diversity," said Rik Peeperkorn, WHO's representative for the occupied Palestinian Territory via video link.

(Reporting by Olivia Le PoidevinEditing by Madeline Chambers)