The World Health Organization said on Wednesday that Gaza is now so low on food that people are starving, and many are dying from lack of nutrition.
In a press briefing in Geneva, WHO Director General Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus said that the 2.1 million people stuck in Gaza are facing a new threat in addition to bombs and bullets: starvation. He warned that deaths from malnutrition are climbing.
Since July 17, clinics for treating severe malnutrition have been full, and they don’t have enough supplies to feed people in emergencies. This year, WHO has recorded 21 deaths of children under five caused by malnutrition.
More than 10% of people in Gaza now suffer from global acute malnutrition. Over 20% of pregnant or breastfeeding women who’ve been checked are also malnourished, many severely so. The hunger crisis has worsened due to aid deliveries stopping and strict access limits.
Dr. Ghebreyesus also said that 95% of homes in Gaza lack enough water for drinking, cooking, or keeping clean.
He explained that from early March to mid-May 2025 — nearly 80 days — no food reached Gaza because humanitarian and commercial routes were completely blocked.
While food deliveries have resumed sporadically since then, they are still far too low for people to survive. Parents tell of children crying themselves to sleep from hunger. At food distribution points, violence has broken out.
From May 27 to July 21, health officials say 1,026 people were killed in Gaza while trying to get food from distribution sites. Almost 90% of Gaza land is now under evacuation orders or within military zones.
Hospitals, meant to be safe zones, have been repeatedly attacked, and many are not working. Those that are open are barely running because of attacks, fuel and medicine shortages, and limited access.
Dr. Ghebreyesus said that on Monday, WHO workers in Deir al‑Balah were shot at and their housing was attacked, putting staff and their families — including children — in danger.
He described how Israeli soldiers entered their compound, forcing women and children to leave on foot amid active fighting. Men were handcuffed, searched, and questioned.
One WHO staff member is still detained. The organization demands his immediate release. Thirty-two people, including women and children, were taken to a WHO office near the conflict zone.
They also had a main warehouse with critical medicines and supplies severely damaged in the incident.
This attack has greatly weakened WHO’s ability to operate in Gaza. It’s hurting efforts to keep the health system working and making it even harder for more than two million people to survive.
Despite these dangers, Dr. Ghebreyesus emphasized that WHO and other UN agencies will continue staying in Gaza.
He urged that UN staff, civilians, and healthcare facilities must be protected in conflict zones, and that humanitarian aid must flow without restrictions. He also renewed the call for hostages to be released unconditionally.
Dr. Ghebreyesus also spoke about Syria, noting a dire situation in As-Sweida, where access is blocked and life-saving aid cannot reach people.
He said the main hospital there is overwhelmed and suffering from a lack of staff, electricity, and medicines.
WHO is monitoring reports that healthcare workers, patients, ambulances, and facilities are being targeted in Syria too.
He stressed that healthcare should never be attacked and must be safeguarded. He called for safe, ongoing humanitarian access in Gaza, Syria, and everywhere people need help.help.
