WHO Highlights Threat of Mass Starvation in Gaza Caused by Human Actions

Casal dels Infants – Mass starvation is sweeping through Gaza, and according to WHO, the crisis is not a natural disaster but the result of human actions. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated that the situation in Gaza represents a humanitarian tragedy that is “clearly man-made.”

“I don’t know what else to call this except mass starvation, and it is man-made. It’s because of the blockade,” Tedros emphasized during a press conference on Wednesday, July 23, 2025.

His statement came after more than 100 humanitarian organizations issued a joint appeal regarding the worsening food crisis and growing threat of mass starvation in Gaza. They reported that tight restrictions, imposed since Israel initiated a full blockade in March, have stalled shipments of food, clean water, and medicine. Although Israel slightly eased the blockade in May, it has kept the flow of aid severely limited.

Children on the Frontlines of the Crisis

WHO reported that over 5,100 children received treatment for malnutrition in July, including 800 suffering from severe wasting. Since mid-July, treatment centers for acute malnutrition have run out of emergency supplies.

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Reports also indicated that at least 21 children under the age of five had died from malnutrition by mid-year, though WHO believes the actual number is likely much higher. The organization revealed that around 10 percent of Gaza’s population is now acutely malnourished, including over 20 percent of pregnant and breastfeeding women.

Collapsing Healthcare System, Clean Water Scarce

The food crisis is worsened by a severe shortage of clean water. WHO stated that 95 percent of households lack sufficient access to drinking water, cooking needs, and sanitation. Health facilities are overwhelmed and unable to accommodate the growing number of patients. “Children are crying from hunger until they fall asleep,” Tedros said.

Gaza’s Ministry of Health reported that ten more people died of hunger on Wednesday night. This raised the total number of starvation-related deaths to 111, most occurring in recent weeks.

WHO Urges Ceasefire and Full Humanitarian Access

Tedros called for an immediate ceasefire and full humanitarian access. He noted that around 2.1 million Palestinians in Gaza are trapped in a brutal war zone.

Israel claims it imposed the restrictions to prevent aid from reaching Hamas. Meanwhile, international organizations argue that the aid entering Gaza is far from sufficient to meet the needs of the 2.2 million affected residents.

Since October 2023, Israeli attacks have reportedly killed more than 59,200 Palestinians, mostly women and children. These attacks have also crippled Gaza’s healthcare infrastructure and vital supply networks.

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