Save the Children medical staff have reported about 40 cases of children with severe and life-threatening malnutrition at one of its clinics in just five weeks, with children and adults presenting with symptoms including extremely low weight, fatigue, low blood pressure and other illnesses associated with hunger.
Over the weekend, one 38-year-old mother arrived at a Save the Children clinic with severe fatigue and muscle wasting. She weighed just 38kg (84 lbs).
Aid and access to aid is the difference between life and death for people in Gaza right now, said Save the Children, reiterating the need for full unfettered access across the Gaza Strip for aid workers and life-saving supplies to tackle malnutrition. Save the Children and other aid agencies are unable to reach many children and adults facing extreme hunger due to ongoing hostilities and a lack of available services and supplies.
The Australian Government has provided AU$72.5 million in humanitarian funding to Gaza and the region’s refugee crisis since the war began on 7 October 2023.
