Despite the ceasefire plan offering hope for increased aid in Gaza, a recent study by UNRWA researchers revealed that over 54,600 children under five in the Gaza strip are severely malnourished.
The study, published in the Lancet medical journal, utilized upper-arm measurements of children between six months and five years old to assess the prevalence of “acute wasting,” the most critical stage of malnutrition requiring urgent treatment.
Children with arm measurements below 125 millimeters were enrolled in UNRWA’s feeding program. Acutely malnourished children are typically thin with weakened immune systems, making them susceptible to developmental delays and diseases, as per Unicef.
The research involved data from more than 219,000 children at various health centers and medical points from January 2024 to August 2025, marking the most extensive analysis of child hunger in the region to date.
Dr. Masako Horino, the lead author of the study, emphasized the dire situation, stating that prolonged conflict and limited humanitarian aid have led to preventable acute malnutrition among preschool-aged children in Gaza.
By August 2025, 15.8% of screened children were suffering from acute wasting, with malnutrition levels worsening during intensified conflict and blockades and improving during temporary ceasefires.
Dr. Prabhat Jha, a global health professor, expressed shock at the fluctuating malnutrition rates in Gaza, correlating with the amount of food aid allowed into the region, emphasizing the urgent need for sustained humanitarian support.
In a commentary accompanying the study, experts in child health and nutrition stressed the critical need for immediate and continuous assistance for the starving children in Gaza.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu previously refuted reports of starvation in Gaza, attributing them to misinformation spread by Hamas, despite reports of hundreds, including children, succumbing to malnutrition-related complications since the conflict began.
The study also highlighted the challenges in obtaining accurate data, given the constraints faced during data collection in conflict zones and the limitations of measuring malnutrition using upper-arm measurements.
While the ceasefire brings a glimmer of hope, the long-term repercussions of malnutrition on children’s health and development in Gaza remain a significant concern.
It is evident that urgent and sustained efforts are required to address the humanitarian crisis and prevent long-lasting health implications for the vulnerable children in Gaza.
