The Director General of the World Health Organization, Dr. Tedros Adhanum Gebrisos, said that the Gaza Strip is witnessing the highest monthly rate registered for severe malnutrition among children, in light of the continued deterioration of humanitarian conditions and the high deaths related to hunger.
In statements from the organization’s headquarters in Geneva today (Thursday), Gebrisos said that during the month of July, they were diagnosed with severe malnutrition, which is the highest number since the crisis began.
He revealed that at least 99 people died due to malnutrition from the beginning of the year to 29 July, including 64 adults and 35 children, including 29 children under five.
According to World Health Organization data, the number of children with severe malnutrition in Gaza is about 25,000 children.
For his part, Rick Biberkorn, the organization’s representative in the occupied Palestinian territories, stressed that food supplies are still not sufficient, warning of the need to increase the size and type of food supplies urgently to avoid more health deterioration.
In a related context, a document issued by the European Department of Foreign Affairs, which was seen by the DB and Reuters, showed that Israel had not fulfilled its full obligations to the agreement with the European Union regarding the increase in humanitarian aid to Gaza.
The document indicated that the number of trucks that entered the sector during the period from 29 July to August 4 reached only 463 trucks, which is fewer than the number agreed with the European Union in mid -July.
The document added that there is a gap in the numbers between what the United Nations monitors and the humanitarian organizations, and those provided by Israel, amid assurances from relief organizations that the restrictions are still hindering the arrival of aid effectively.
Despite this, the document monitored some positive steps, including the resumption of fuel supplies after a 130 -day interruption, and the reopening of aid crossings across Egypt and Jordan and the Zakim crossing north of Gaza, in addition to reforming some vital facilities of the infrastructure.
However, European warnings still exist, as the document stressed that the risk of starvation threatens about two million Palestinians in the Strip, which calls for an urgent international action to avoid a humanitarian catastrophe.
