UNICEF has announced the closure of 21 malnutrition treatment centres in Gaza, amid continued Israeli military operations and evacuation orders in areas where these facilities were operating.
UNICEF spokesperson Kazem Abu Khalaf confirmed the development during a press briefing on Saturday. He noted that the closures come amid an ongoing blockade that has prevented the delivery of critical humanitarian aid, including food, medicine, and nutritional supplies, for over a month.
“We are still awaiting findings from the specialised food security assessment body, which will help guide the next steps,” said Abu Khalaf. “But what’s already clear is that children in Gaza are facing an increasingly desperate situation.”
According to UNICEF, more than one million children in Gaza have gone without life-saving assistance for over 35 days. The agency warned that this prolonged denial of aid violates international humanitarian law and poses severe risks to the health and survival of children.
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Despite having thousands of aid parcels ready for delivery, UNICEF says it has been unable to transport them into Gaza due to Israel’s blockade. The organisation stressed the urgent need for unrestricted humanitarian access.
Meanwhile, supplies of complementary food for infants have been exhausted. The only remaining nutritional aid consists of enough ready-to-use milk to sustain just 400 children for a month.
