UNICEF: Gaza faces massive increase in child mortality due to hunger and malnutrition

UNICEF warns of a growing risk of child mortality in the Gaza Strip and calls for the immediate opening of all border crossings for food aid.

The organization points out that children's immune systems are extremely weakened because they have not had access to adequate nutrition for a long time. According to spokesman Ricardo Pires, this is a crisis situation in which there is a risk of an increase in deaths not only among newborns but also among infants.

In the enclave, where some areas are affected by famine, the United Nations is preparing to expand humanitarian aid as part of a 60-day ceasefire with Hamas.

At the same time, Israeli troops have withdrawn from parts of Gaza – a first step in US President Donald Trump's peace initiative.

UNICEF emphasizes that around 50,000 children are suffering from acute malnutrition and need urgent treatment. If aid does not reach the population as quickly as possible, the children will not be able to survive even basic infections or climatic fluctuations.

(reuters, lup)