Gaza Herald- UNICEF has warned that the Israeli genocidal war on Gaza has left around 320,000 children under the age of five facing severe malnutrition, with 2026 projections suggesting that about 101,000 of these children will experience life-threatening wasting, requiring urgent medical treatment.
According to reports as of 3 February 2026, at least 21,289 children have been killed and 44,500 injured, many with life-altering injuries.
UNICEF said that children have faced severe protection risks and urgent mental health needs, while about 1.3 million people, most of Gaza’s population, have been displaced repeatedly.
It stated that severe malnutrition has continued to threaten the well-being and survival of children in the Gaza Strip, along with limited access to health, nutrition, and WASH services.
The UN agency added that around 37,000 pregnant and breastfeeding women urgently need nutrition support, while about 121,000 children aged 5 to 17 also require essential nutritional assistance.
UNICEF noted that damaged infrastructure, insecurity, and restricted humanitarian access had disrupted supply chains and delayed essential deliveries, while congested entry points, limited alternative routes for aid trucks, and customs clearance delays had further impeded the flow of critical supplies. Overall, these challenges had significantly slowed the delivery of humanitarian assistance.
