Health authorities in the Gaza Strip on Wednesday said that around 60,000 children are facing life-threatening malnutrition due to the continued closure of border crossings by Israel, which has prevented the entry of food, humanitarian assistance, and medical supplies.
In a press statement, the Gaza-based health authorities said the persistent blockade has severely restricted access to essential nutrition and healthcare, further endangering the well-being of children in the enclave.
The authorities cautioned that the absence of adequate food and clean water sources, along with the ongoing ban on vaccinations, particularly against poliovirus, could aggravate the already deteriorating public health conditions in the coastal territory.
According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, all crossings into Gaza have remained closed for humanitarian and commercial shipments since March 2. The UN described the current closure as the longest continuous blockade since the escalation of hostilities between Israel and Hamas in October 2023.
