Rising Death Toll from Hunger and Thirst in Gaza Strip
15-Year-Old Dies of Malnutrition and Thirst in Gaza Hospital, Bringing Death Toll to 20
Ashraf al-Qudra, the spokesperson for the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza, has announced a tragic update regarding the dire situation in the region. In a written statement, al-Qudra revealed that a 15-year-old boy has died due to malnutrition and thirst at Shifa Hospital in Gaza City.
This heartbreaking news comes as reports emerge that a 72-year-old Palestinian also passed away due to malnutrition and dehydration at Kemal Advan Hospital in Beit Lahiya, located in the north of Gaza. With these latest fatalities, the total number of deaths attributed to malnutrition and dehydration in the Gaza Strip has now reached 20.
Al-Qudra highlighted the fact that the recorded number of deaths from malnutrition and dehydration only accounts for those individuals who managed to reach hospitals for treatment. He expressed concern that many more people may have silently perished from hunger before receiving medical assistance.
The ongoing crisis in Gaza has been exacerbated by Israel’s intensified attacks on the region, prompting the United Nations to issue warnings about the risk of famine. It is estimated that 2.2 million people in Gaza are now in danger of facing severe food shortages.
According to the UN’s Integrated Food Security Stage Classification (IPC) scale, 378 thousand individuals in Gaza are currently experiencing level 5 hunger, categorized as “catastrophic”, while 939 thousand people are at level 4 hunger, labeled as “emergency”.
Reports from the region indicate that Palestinians, particularly those residing in the northern areas of Gaza, have resorted to grinding animal feed as a substitute for flour, which has become increasingly scarce.
The situation in Gaza remains critical, with urgent action needed to address the growing human toll of malnutrition and starvation in the region.
