Starving and skeletal children in Gaza are waiting desperately for help as famine brought by Israel's aid blockade is unfolding in the area.
Meriem, like thousands of children in Gaza, is ravaged by acute famine. Her body is skeletal, with bones jutting out as if trying to escape, and her vacant eyes stare into nothing. Her mother said she is helpless, fearing each breath of her daughter may be her last.
"I’m only afraid of one thing, losing my daughter. She keeps saying, 'Forgive me, Mom!' and I fear each breath may be her last. All I pray for is to see her healthy again, the way she used to be," said Meriem's mother.
Famine is tightening its grip on Gaza, with child deaths from malnutrition have been surging in recent months, according to the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF).
In June, 6,500 children were admitted for treatment for malnutrition, the highest number since the conflict began. July is tracking even higher, with 5,000 children admitted in just the first two weeks, according to the UNICEF.
"When the famine worsened, Meriem's condition deteriorated further. When she asks for food, it's either unavailable or I can't afford it, because I have no income. The war continues, and food can't enter due to the closed crossings," said Meriem's mother.
Israel launched its military offensive in Gaza in October 2023 and imposed a total blockade on March 2 this year.
The blockade was partially eased in May to allow a private company, backed by Israel and the United States, to open controversial food distribution centers.
Aid convoys and airdrops by Arab and European countries resumed in late July, but UN experts warn that famine is still unfolding in the territory.
"People in Gaza endure daily suffering in displacement camps, living in tents unfit for either summer or winter. On top of that, there's acute malnutrition, with no fruits, vegetables, or meat at all. The humanitarian situation in Gaza is catastrophic," said a Gaza resident.
According to an update from the Gaza-based health authorities on Tuesday, the death toll from Israeli strikes in Gaza has risen to 61,020. The total number of people who died from hunger-related causes since the start of the war now stands at 188, including 94 children.
Starving children in desperate need of aids as famine unfolds in Gaza
Starving children in desperate need of aids as famine unfolds in Gaza
