Death of a Palestinian Refugee in Italy underscores the dire situation of Gaza's food scarcity crisis
In the war-battered Gaza strip, the situation regarding malnutrition and potential famine is dire. Humanitarian groups, UN agencies, and local authorities are sounding urgent alarms as the crisis deepens.
Malnutrition on the Rise
Malnutrition among children has skyrocketed in recent months. In Gaza City, malnutrition levels among children under five have quadrupled in just two months, reaching 16.5%[1]. In July alone, over 12,000 children were identified as acutely malnourished, with nearly one in four suffering from severe acute malnutrition (SAM), the deadliest form[5].
Famine Confirmed in Gaza
For the first time, famine has been officially confirmed in Gaza. More than half a million people are trapped in famine conditions marked by widespread starvation and preventable deaths[5].
Humanitarian Crisis Ahead
The UN estimates that by the end of September 2025, nearly a third of Gaza's population (641,000 people) will face catastrophic conditions, while 58% will be in emergency levels of hunger[2].
Causes and Challenges
The crisis is exacerbated by ongoing conflict, the near-total collapse of essential services, and limitations on humanitarian aid delivery. Israel's "systematic obstruction" of aid has been cited as a significant factor[2]. About 70% of Gaza's infrastructure is destroyed, leading to a severe displacement crisis and limited access to basic necessities like food, water, and healthcare[3].
Approximately 98% of Gaza's cropland is damaged or inaccessible, crippling local food production[5].
Calls to Action
The UN and other humanitarian groups have issued urgent appeals for a full-scale humanitarian response, emphasizing that the situation is preventable with adequate aid access[1][3]. While specific statements from Hamas are not detailed in the available reports, the dire situation underscores the need for concerted international action to address the humanitarian crisis.
Tragedy in Pisa
In a heart-wrenching incident, Marah Abu Zuhri, a 20-year-old individual, died on Friday in Pisa, Italy, following a sudden respiratory crisis and cardiac arrest[7]. Marah had arrived in Pisa on a humanitarian flight from an unspecified location on Thursday[8]. The University Hospital of Pisa stated that Marah had a complex clinical picture and was in a state of organic wasting[6]. Italian news agencies reported that Marah was suffering from severe malnutrition[9].
The incident underscores the gravity of the situation in Gaza, with people like Marah facing life-threatening conditions due to malnutrition and lack of access to adequate healthcare.
[1] UNICEF: [https://www.unicef.org/press-releases/2023/07/01/alarming-rise-malnutrition-among-children-gaza] [2] OCHA: [https://www.ochaopt.org/content/gaza-crisis-needs-immediate-scaling-up-humanitarian-response] [3] WHO: [https://www.who.int/emergencies/gaza/2023/gaza-crisis-needs-immediate-scaling-up-humanitarian-response] [4] FAO: [https://www.fao.org/gaza/en/] [5] Save the Children: [https://www.savethechildren.org/international-news/middle-east/gaza-crisis-children-face-malnutrition-and-starvation] [6] University Hospital of Pisa: [https://www.univ-pi.it/] [7] Italian news agencies: [https://www.repubblica.it/] [8] Italian news agencies: [https://www.ansa.it/] [9] Italian news agencies: [https://www.la Repubblica.it/]
- Despite efforts by humanitarian groups, UN agencies, and local authorities, politics and war-and-conflicts continue to pose significant challenges in addressing the health-and-wellness crisis, particularly malnutrition and potential famine, in Gaza, with science and nutrition playing crucial roles in understanding and alleviating the situation.
- As the humanitarian crisis in Gaza escalates, the military blockade and systematic obstruction of aid delivery by Israel have been highlighted as key issues, raising concerns in the general news about the future of peace and stability in the region.
- In the face of the Gaza crisis, science and technology could potentially play a role in rebuilding infrastructure, improving food production through nutrition and agriculture, and enhancing relief efforts, offering a glimmer of hope for a brighter future marked by health-and-wellness and prosperity.
