Gaza malnutrition crisis reaches catastrophic levels as the threat of famine looms

Palestine Red Crescent medical teams are battling severe child malnutrition amid aid shortages with nearly half a million people facing starvation.

Published 24 July 2025

After months without aid, malnutrition in Gaza has reached catastrophic levels and continues to worsen. Gaza is now on the brink of famine, with the entire population grappling with severe food insecurity. Nearly half a million people, approximately 470,000 - 22% of Gaza’s population - are facing the imminent threat of starvation.

Just a few days ago, Nebal Farsakh, spokesperson for the Palestine Red Crescent Society, described the dire situation people are being confronted with.

"The people in Gaza are facing an unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe,” she said.

“More people are being admitted to hospitals with malnutrition especially among children, pregnant women and the elderly. “The situation is only getting worse. People not only struggle to have access to food but also to clean water and medicine.”

Medical teams are battling severe child malnutrition amid aid shortages

Despite the overwhelming number of cases, medical teams from the Palestine Red Crescent Society are doing everything they can to treat malnourished children with the limited resources available. In field hospitals like the one in Rafah, staff are working around the clock to provide emergency nutrition support, essential food supplements, and basic medical care.

Dr Mohamed El-Deeb, a PRCS doctor at Al Quds Hospital in Gaza City, spoke about the desperate condition of many children.

“Children are suffering from severe malnutrition, and they are in need of food supplements, and they need the essential foods for them. They get dizzy, they get tired, they get drowsy, they get malnourished. We have received a lot of cases such as this who are suffering from severe malnutrition and even sometimes collapse in their sleep because of their malnutrition,” he said.

After more than 20 months of hostilities, critical infrastructure across Gaza has been extensively damaged. This infrastructure is essential for electricity and water services, which provide displaced communities with power, safe drinking water, hygiene and sanitation, and medical care.

Dr El-Deeb explained: “Facing here every day is catastrophic and there is a severe deficiency of all the necessary equipment, such as the flour, sugar and the essential proteins and carbohydrate for every single individual."

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Unhindered humanitarian aid is desperately needed as malnutrition grows

Rory Moylan, Head of Region for the Middle East, North Africa, and Europe at the British Red Cross, has emphasised the urgent need for aid in Gaza, where essential aid has become increasingly scarce. He stressed that the rising malnutrition crisis is a direct result of ongoing disruptions to humanitarian assistance, which is placing even more pressure on an already crumbling health system.

“The humanitarian crisis in Gaza deepens with every passing hour. Supplies have dried up, prices of basic goods are surging, and items like meat and dairy have nearly vanished. Malnutrition is rising, clean water is scarce, and the already decimated healthcare services are overwhelmed. Families are left to survive in makeshift shelters, with no promise of relief.”

“Gaza needs a sustained and unimpeded flow of aid, civilians must be spared from fighting, and humanitarian and health workers must be protected. Day in day out, the Palestine Red Crescent Society continues to serve those most in need, responding with courage and commitment - saving lives, offering hope, and providing critical support. But time is running out.”

How you can help

The situation in Gaza is catastrophic but you can help by donating to the Gaza Crisis Appeal. This appeal helps support the life-saving work of the Palestine Red Crescent Society like that of Dr El-Deeb at the Al Quds Hospital and wider work in the region, now and in the future.

• Act now - donate to the Gaza Crisis appeal