Gaza Crisis: 1 In 6 Children Severely Malnourished, Study Finds

This alarming estimate follows the UN’s recent declaration that the Palestinian territory is being hit by a famine, as a new study published on Thursday, October 9, reveals nearly one in six children in Gaza is suffering from acute malnutrition due to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas.

The comprehensive study, financed by the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) and published in The Lancet, warned that “after soon two years of conflict and drastic restrictions on humanitarian aid, tens of thousands of little ones in the Gaza Strip are suffering from avoidable acute malnutrition, increasing their risk of mortality.”

Key Findings and Methodology

The research is the first to establish the extent of child malnutrition in Gaza with such thoroughness.

• 15% of children examined in August 2025 were found to be acutely malnourished.
• Researchers extrapolate this to approximately 55,000 children affected across the territory.
• The study is based on data for more than 200,000 children under five examined between January 2024 and August 2025 at UNRWA clinics and emergency sites.

The rate of acute malnutrition, which causes rapid weight loss and can lead to severe short- and long-term health problems, has been rising, particularly following a blockade implemented by Israel between March and May 2025.

Wider Context and International Reaction

The publication intervenes nearly two months after the UN officially declared a famine in some areas of the Palestinian territory this summer, an accusation that Israel has rejected as false.

In a commentary published alongside the study, international paediatricians not involved in the research noted its “rare quality for a war zone” and stated that its conclusions clearly indicate that “children in the Gaza Strip are severely malnourished, a reality that will affect their future health and development for several generations.”

However, they cautioned that the data should be considered with certain limitations.

The current conflict began after a Hamas attack on 7 October 2023, which killed 1,219 people, mostly civilians, on Israeli soil.

Since then, according to the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry—whose figures the UN deems reliable—more than 67,160 Palestinians have been killed in the subsequent Israeli reprisal campaign in the Gaza Strip.

The international paediatricians also noted the significant media attention on the Gaza conflict, reminding readers that other war zones, particularly Sudan, are also being struck by famine.

Source: Defi Media