Children of Gaza face increasingly severe food shortages

World War in the Middle East Gaza Children Face Increasingly Severe Food Scarcity Israel restricted the entry of essential goods into the Palestinian enclave this month. Despite the gradual return of goods, there are increasingly more cases of malnutrition among children. The interruption of the supply of food and the reduction of humanitarian aid in Gaza have made it increasingly difficult for families to access nutritious meals, leading to an increase in cases of malnutrition, especially among children. Israel suspended commercial shipments to Gaza on October 14, halting the supply of food and other essential goods. "We were affected immediately. We could not find eggs or milk and we do not have money to buy other food," said a resident with five young children to Al Jazeera. "Onions cost about ten shekels [2.90 euros] per kilogram, while tomatoes cost between ten and 15 shekels per kilogram [2.90 and 4.32 euros]," she stated. The suspension occurred following a fiscal dispute between local merchants and Hamas, which was demanding about 3,000 euros for each truck carrying goods to the enclave. The group described the payment as a voluntary contribution to a fund supporting people affected by the war. On October 19, Tel Aviv announced that commercial transport would be gradually resumed. On Monday as well, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) announced that the shortage of funds forced a reduction in food aid to Gaza. The program reduced the number of supported people from 1.6 million in September to 1.1 million in October. The number of hot meals the program provides daily was reduced from 250,000 to 150,000. Israel suspended commercial shipments to Gaza on October 14, interrupting the supply of food and other essential goods. "We were affected immediately. We could not find eggs or milk and we do not have money to buy other food," said a resident with five young children to Al Jazeera. "Onions cost about ten shekels [2.90 euros] per kilogram, while tomatoes cost between ten and 15 shekels per kilogram [2.90 and 4.32 euros]," she stated. The suspension occurred following a fiscal dispute between local merchants and Hamas, which was demanding about 3,000 euros for each truck carrying goods to the enclave. The group described the payment as a voluntary contribution to a fund supporting people affected by the war. On October 19, Tel Aviv announced that commercial transport would be gradually resumed. On Monday as well, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) announced that the shortage of funds forced a reduction in food aid to Gaza. The program reduced the number of supported people from 1.6 million in September to 1.1 million in October. The number of hot meals the program provides daily was reduced from 250,000 to 150,000. The WFP also stated that about 1.4 million people in Gaza, approximately two-thirds of the population, were facing a situation of acute food insecurity. Thousands of Malnourished Children According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, more than 2,800 children were admitted for malnutrition treatment in September, including more than 360 with severe acute malnutrition. A nutritional survey supported by UNICEF, published in August, also revealed that 12.2 percent of children under five suffered from growth stunting, associated with prolonged nutritional and health problems. "Even when the crossings were open and food was entering, we continued to register these cases. Children do not recover from malnutrition in one or two months. Some cases take between three to six months to recover," said Mohamed Alraee, a pediatrician in Gaza, to Al Jazeera. "If the situation continues like this, we predict there will be more cases of malnutrition," he added. To worsen the food crisis, the vast majority of the enclave's population is unemployed due to the war and the restrictions imposed by Israel on the reconstruction of the territory's infrastructure and economy. / agencies