SURGING HUNGER DEATHS
The Gaza health ministry said on Wednesday that 10 more people had died overnight from starvation, bringing the total to 111 since the conflict began, most of them in recent weeks as hunger spreads.
The WHO said at least 21 child deaths from malnutrition have been reported so far this year, but stressed the real toll is likely far higher. Centres for treating malnutrition are full and lack emergency supplies, officials said.
Tedros added that the United Nations and its humanitarian partners were unable to deliver any food between March and May for nearly 80 days, and that aid deliveries since then remain insufficient to meet needs.
According to the WHO, screenings show that roughly 10 per cent of the population in Gaza is suffering from either moderate or severe malnutrition, including up to 20 per cent of pregnant women.
“In July alone, 5,100 children have been admitted to malnutrition programmes, including 800 who were severely emaciated,” said Rik Peeperkorn, the WHO’s representative for the occupied Palestinian territories.
