Rising Death Toll from Famine, Drought in Gaza Sparks Concerns

Palestinian Ministry of Health announced on Saturday that the death toll from famine and drought has risen to 25 individuals.

The spokesperson for the Palestinian Ministry of Health, Dr. Ashraf Al-Qudra, reported the passing of a two-month-old girl at Kamal Adwan Hospital in the northern Gaza Strip, as well as a 20-year-old woman at Al-Shifa Medical Complex due to malnutrition and drought.

He clarified that the announced toll of famine and drought victims reflects only those who have reached hospitals.

He highlighted that the increasing number of malnutrition and drought victims is extremely alarming, confirming that the famine in the northern Gaza Strip has reached fatal levels.

Israel has waged a deadly military offensive, now in its 152nd day, on the Gaza Strip since October 7th.

More than 30,960 Palestinians have since been killed and over 72,524 others injured amid mass destruction and shortages of necessities.

Israel has also imposed a crippling blockade on the Gaza Strip, leaving its population, particularly residents of northern Gaza, on the verge of starvation.

One in six children under age two — or 15.6% — is acutely malnourished.

Children are dying of starvation and dehydration in northern Gaza as Israel’s throttling of aid has cut off the supply of vital resources into the area for months, according to the Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO).

The Israeli war has pushed 85% of Gaza’s population into internal displacement amid acute shortages of food, clean water, and medicine. In comparison, 60% of the enclave’s infrastructure has been damaged or destroyed, according to the UN.

Israel stands accused of genocide at the International Court of Justice. An interim ruling in January ordered Tel Aviv to stop genocidal acts and take measures to guarantee that humanitarian assistance is provided to civilians in Gaza.