Shortage of humanitarian aid has led to an increase in malnutrition, infant deaths, and miscarriages.

On Tuesday, Doctors Without Borders (MSF) published a report showing that the food crisis caused by the Israeli blockade of humanitarian aid in Gaza has had a devastating effect on Palestinian pregnant women, newborns and infants.

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Between October 2024 and December 2025, MSF teams treated 513 children under six months old, of whom 91% were at risk of growth and development problems.

In December 2025, 200 babies were no longer in those care programs: 32% (64 children) had to leave due to insecurity and displacement, and 7% (14 children) died.

The first cases of child malnutrition were identified in January 2024. Through February 2026, MSF treated 4,176 minors and 3,336 women for acute malnutrition.

More than half of the mothers of newborns treated by MSF were affected by malnutrition at some point during pregnancy, and 25% remained malnourished after childbirth.

“Families adopted survival mechanisms, often prioritizing men and children over mothers when distributing scarce food,” said MSF medical coordinator for Palestine Marina Pomares.

MSF teams also observed a high number of miscarriages and identified that one contributing factor was stress due to difficulty accessing humanitarian aid and insecurity.

International agencies estimated that for much of 2025, three-quarters of Gaza’s population experienced high levels of food insecurity, and in August a state of famine was declared, the first ever recorded in the Middle East.

MSF head of emergencies Jose Mas said the current ceasefire has brought some stability, but the situation remains extremely fragile, and the organization’s teams continue to admit new patients with malnutrition. “The population of Gaza is forced to endure deliberately undignified living conditions and lacks access to aid, income and basic resources,” he said.

teleSUR/ JF

Sources: EFE – MSF

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