Children in Gaza suffer from famine, illness due to Israel's blockade

Severe shortages of food and medicine in Gaza have led to widespread hunger and illness among children as Israeli forces continue to block humanitarian aid from entering the region.

The Palestinian death toll from the Israeli military assaults in Gaza has risen to 52,400 over the last 18 months, Gaza-based health authorities said in a statement on Wednesday.

The Gaza Strip is facing unprecedented suffering as shortages of food, water, and medicine push its population to the brink of survival. Data shows that over 1.1 million Palestinians in Gaza endure severe hunger daily, with 65,000 children acutely malnourished.

Hospitals are already overwhelmed and lack of supplies, as doctors and nurses struggle to treat the sick and injured amid continuing Israeli blockade.

"Every day, we receive between 40 to 100 martyrs, and twice as many injured. We simply cannot treat them; there are no medicines, no equipment, nothing we need to save lives," said a local doctor.

Clean water is scarce, diseases spread, and famine looms across the region. The UN warns the two months siege has intensified the crisis, calling it a man-made disaster.

"My little baby looks so different now. She’s been here for four days and has been losing 200 grams every single day. They tried feeding her with milk, but it’s not working. She’s not getting any better," said a mother of a famine-stricken infant.

Patients who need dialysis treatment are facing a slow death as machines fail without maintenance, spare parts, or consistent electricity. Fuel shortages force generators to shut down, halting life-saving treatments.

"These machines need technical maintenance, and it's extremely difficult for us to even secure a spot for treatment. Before the war, we used to receive up to 12 hours of dialysis each week. But now, we're lucky if we get even six hours," said one of the patients.

Children in Gaza suffer from famine, illness due to Israel's blockade

Children in Gaza suffer from famine, illness due to Israel's blockade

Children in Gaza suffer from famine, illness due to Israel's blockade

Children in Gaza suffer from famine, illness due to Israel's blockade

Children in Gaza suffer from famine, illness due to Israel's blockade

China is looking to light up the vast potential of its "night economy" with the capital city, Beijing, leading the way in transforming its nightlife into a vibrant "prime time" for spending by blending the city's historic charm with modern methods to boost consumption.

As the country embraces a new phase of development, the booming night-time economy is seen as a key indicator of urban vitality and quality of life, and various local districts are now looking to tap into the appetite for consumer spending once the sun goes down.

One of the most most bustling areas after-dark in Beijing is the Zhongguancun Art Park. Located in Haidian District, it is home to more than 70 retail and dining outlets, many of which are opening their first stores in the city.

Featuring a wide range of international trendy brands -- from cultural boutiques and perfume shops to toy stores -- the complex offers consumers a comprehensive shopping experience late into the night.

The mall has also sought to "bring the park indoors," with a rooftop garden and a sunken courtyard plaza bathed in warm lighting, creating a relaxed, garden-like atmosphere for evening visitors.

"I'm here for dinner tonight and have only explored a small part so far. It feels quite diverse and pretty spacious -- basically, it has everything. I plan to continue looking around to see what else there is," said a local consumer named Li Jiahe.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the city in Tongzhou District, another night-time attraction has popped up to delight visitors.

Located along the Tongzhou section of the Grand Canal -- the world's longest man-made waterway which is also inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List -- the new Moon River Town has ignited the night-time economy with an open-air night market where visitors can stroll, shop, and enjoy the scenery.

The market's mouthwatering food court features over 100 stalls offering flavors from across China, with seasonal dishes updated monthly.

The cultural zone displays a range of handmade floral crafts, toys, and accessories featuring intangible cultural heritage. Together with the town's eye-catching art sculptures, themed bars, and open-air performances, it forms an ideal leisure destination to warm up the cold winter nights.

"Our town is currently divided into five major zones, including a cultural and creative exhibition zone, antique and collectibles zone, food zone, music square zone, and so on. The offerings also cover cultural and creative products, antiques, intangible cultural heritage items, books, food, trendy toys, and more," said Quan Ping, manager of the Moon River Town's night market.

Meanwhile, another much-visited destination in the capital is the Solana Lifestyle Shopping Park, situated on the banks of the Liangma River in Chaoyang District. It seamlessly blends lakeside views, cultural tourism, shopping, and dining experiences, and dazzles after dark with luminous installations reflecting across the water, making it a favorite nighttime spot for both locals and tourists alike.

Experts have noted the growing scale of China's night-time economy in recent years, which is now estimated to be worth more than 50 trillion yuan (over 7 trillion U.S. dollars).

Beijing's night economy has seen substantial growth since 2022, with signs of its emergence even in some suburban areas," said Wei Xiang, a professor at the Business School of the University of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

Night-time economy thrives in Beijing as more consumers head out after-dark