World Health Organization warns Gaza’s malnutrition rates hit alarming levels in July

2025-07-28 07:00:24

Malnutrition-related deaths in the Gaza Strip have spiked in July, the latest sign of a hunger crisis that continues to worsen, the World Health Organization warned Sunday.

Of the 74 malnutrition-related deaths recorded in 2025 in Gaza, 63 occurred in July, according to the WHO. In July alone, 24 children under five years old died of malnutrition-related causes.

Gaza has been gripped by an escalating hunger crisis as Israel imposed a blockade on the enclave, slowing the entry of aid to a trickle. The WHO has repeatedly expressed concern over the extreme risks to Palestinians there.

“The crisis remains entirely preventable. Deliberate blocking and delay of large-scale food, health, and humanitarian aid has cost many lives,” the WHO said.

The global health body said the enclave’s malnutrition rates reached “alarming levels” this month. Over 5,000 children under 5 were admitted for outpatient treatment of malnutrition in just the first two weeks of July, the WHO said.