Gaza: The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has sounded alarm over the growing humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, highlighting a sharp increase in child malnutrition and critically low access to food and water, due to Israel’s ongoing blockade on aid.
In its latest update, OCHA reported that 3,696 Palestinian children were newly diagnosed with acute malnutrition in March, compared to 2,027 in February — a nearly doubling of cases within a month.
“Food consumption in Gaza has sharply deteriorated due to the blockade on humanitarian aid and other essential supplies,” the report said, noting that intake of key food groups such as meat, dairy, vegetables, and fruits remains “critically low.”
OCHA also flagged an escalating water crisis, describing it as a “severe survival emergency” with devastating public health implications. Access to clean water is dangerously scarce across the Gaza Strip, further endangering already vulnerable populations.
The situation continues to worsen as ceasefire talks stall. US Special Envoy for Hostage Affairs Adam Boehler told Al Jazeera that any truce is conditional on Hamas releasing all hostages. Over 200 captives were taken during Hamas’s October 7, 2023, cross-border assault on Israel.
Meanwhile, Israeli airstrikes have intensified since the breakdown of the truce on March 18, with at least 35 people reportedly killed in the latest round of attacks, according to medical sources cited by Al Jazeera.
The UN estimates that 500,000 people have been newly displaced or re-displaced since the ceasefire collapsed. Israel’s Defence Minister Israel Katz reaffirmed that the aid blockade is a deliberate policy tool to pressure Hamas, stating, “Our policy is clear.”
Casualty Update:
- Gaza’s Health Ministry:
- 51,025 Palestinians killed
- 116,432 wounded
- Gaza’s Media Office:
- 61,700+ confirmed dead, with thousands missing and presumed buried under rubble
- Israel:
- 1,139 Israelis killed on October 7
- 200+ captives taken by Hamas
The Worsening humanitarian crisis, paired with continued violence, has intensified international calls for a ceasefire and unimpeded humanitarian access — but the deadlock remains unresolved.