Famine is killing children in Gaza, and the world must act before more innocent lives are lost

Right now, as we sit in our rooms miles away, children in Gaza are going days without food. Some are fainting from hunger. Others are dying. Families are begging for help, and one girl supported by Save the Children said, “I pray that a truce happens, and they let in food before we die.”

This is a famine, a very serious crisis where large numbers of people don’t have enough to eat for long periods of time, and many begin to starve to death. In Gaza, that’s exactly what’s taking place.

According to Save the Children, the number of children under five who are dangerously malnourished has grown 10 times in just four months. In March, 28 children were treated for malnutrition. In the first half of July, that number jumped to 259 out of 3,533 children found. That’s 7% of all the children they checked, and the numbers aren’t going down.

It’s not just the kids. In July, nearly half (43%) of the pregnant and breastfeeding women at Save the Children’s clinics were found to be malnourished. These mothers are arriving tired, weak, and unable to properly feed their babies.

This is happening because of a complete block. Since October 2023, the Israeli government has blocked nearly all: food, medicine, water, and fuel from entering Gaza. Aid groups say this is causing famine, and that it’s a man-made disaster. The United Nations and a global hunger group called the IPC now say the “worst-case scenario of famine is playing out” in Gaza.

Already, at least 147 people, from which 88 are little children, have died from malnutrition or starvation. In July alone, at least 25 children died. Save the Children staff say that some of the kids they care for have gone two days without any food at all. Many families are now trying to survive by eating scraps from garbage.

Ahmad Alhendawi, the Regional Director for Save the Children, said, “Children in Gaza are starving to death before our eyes.” He also said, “This is starvation of children by design.” That means the situation could be stopped, but only if food and supplies are allowed in.

Aid workers say they know how to treat malnutrition. With the right supplies like special food and medicine, children’s lives can be saved. If the supplies are blocked, there’s nothing they can do. Every day that passes without food, or clean water puts more kids at risk of dying, or having long-term health problems, like stunted growth or brain damage.

Save the Children has been working in Gaza for decades. They run two healthcare centers and support families with water, nutrition, and safe places for children to play and learn. They’re ready to help even more, but only if the siege ends and aid is allowed in.

There was recently a small “pause” in fighting that allowed some aid in, but experts say it’s nowhere near enough. What’s needed now is a full ceasefire and full access for humanitarian workers.

Children are always the most at risk in a food crisis. They can’t wait any longer. Famine is killing children in Gaza, and the world must act before more innocent lives are lost.