Gaza Humanitarian Crisis Worsens as IDF Expands Deir al-Balah Operations
Gaza Humanitarian Crisis Worsens as IDF Expands Deir al-Balah Operations
The humanitarian crisis in Gaza is deepening, with a severe malnutrition crisis impacting mothers and children, particularly in central Gaza’s Deir al-Balah. Recent days have seen an expansion of Israeli military operations in the area, exacerbating already dire conditions.
At Al Aqsa Martyrs’ Hospital in Deir al-Balah, approximately 30 children are being treated for malnutrition, a stark indicator of the widespread food insecurity. Mothers like Nourhan Salha describe the indescribable pain of watching their infants, such as her 5-month-old daughter Haya, struggle to gain weight due to a critical shortage and prohibitive cost of baby formula.
Despite claims from COGAT, the Israeli organization facilitating aid, that there are no restrictions on baby formula, on-the-ground reports from residents and UN agencies like UNRWA confirm severe shortages and soaring prices. The UN Population Fund has also warned of increased risks for pregnant women, including higher rates of miscarriages and low birth weights.
Recent developments on July 21 saw continued Israeli military activity, including illumination flares and strikes over Deir al-Balah. The IDF also issued new evacuation orders on July 20 for parts of the city, further complicating humanitarian access, particularly to the Al Mawasi coastal area where thousands of displaced Palestinians are sheltering.
The World Food Programme warned on July 20 that 90,000 women and children in Gaza urgently require treatment for malnutrition. As the conflict intensifies and basic necessities become scarcer and unaffordable, residents express desperation, pleading for an end to the war and consistent provision of essential supplies.
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