The health of children in the Gaza Strip is one of the most common crises and challenges in Gaza, with the continuation of the blockade, the escalation of military aggression and the near collapse of the health system, where thousands of children live in an environment that lacks the most basic elements of health care. The situation is exacerbated by the prevalence of malnutrition among children, as a result of the decline in food security and the spread of famine in the Strip.
How does the blockade affect nutrition and children’s health in Gaza?
The effects of the Israeli blockade imposed on the Gaza Strip for more than 18 years overlap with the repercussions of the ongoing war, which together constitute a severe humanitarian crisis that affects all aspects of life, and children are the biggest victims, especially with regard to nutrition and health. Between restrictions on the entry of food and medicine, and the devastation caused by military incursions, Gaza's environment is no longer conducive to ensuring children's minimum health.
The blockade has also led to a sharp reduction in food security, as a result of restricted food access and higher prices than households can afford, at a time when economic conditions have deteriorated as a result of the war. This situation has deprived thousands of children of their right to adequate food, leading to high rates of acute and chronic malnutrition, including wasting, stunting and anaemia, which threaten the long-term physical and mental development of children.
The war, in turn, has compounded this suffering, by destroying health infrastructure, targeting hospitals and medical centers, cutting off electricity and fuel supplies needed to operate medical devices and preserve vaccines. The raids also led to the mass displacement of tens of thousands of families to overcrowded and unsanitary shelters, contributing to outbreaks of infectious diseases among children, such as diarrhoea, respiratory infections, and skin infections.
Amid the blockade and war, children are denied access to basic health care and vaccines, and doctors are unable to provide treatment in the absence of medicines and equipment.
Read more about The humanitarian situation of children in Gaza
What are the main health challenges facing children in Gaza?
1. Lack of medicines and medical supplies
Hospitals in Gaza suffer from acute shortages of essential medicines, such as antibiotics, fever medicines, and life-saving treatments. It also suffers from a shortage of nurseries and medical equipment for newborns, putting hundreds of lives at risk, especially in light of frequent power outages.
2. Malnutrition
Malnutrition is one of the most serious challenges facing children in the sector, with international reports pointing to high rates of wasting, stunting and anaemia among children as a result of poor diet and lack of diversity, high food prices and declining purchasing power of families.
3. Infectious Diseases
Due to water pollution, poor sanitation infrastructure, and poor hygiene in shelters, diseases such as diarrhoea, scabies, smallpox, and intestinal infections, as well as respiratory diseases resulting from overcrowding and poor ventilation, are prevalent among children.
4. Poor access to health centres
Due to the destruction of many health centers and restrictions on movement, many children find it difficult to access medical care, especially in remote or besieged areas, exacerbating minor cases and turning them into chronic diseases.
5. Power outages and their impact on medical devices
Constant power outages directly affect the work of hospital medical devices, such as incubators, respirators, and refrigerators that preserve vaccines, threatening the lives of infants and damaging vaccines necessary for their proper development.
What diseases are common among children in Gaza?
The most prominent of these diseases:
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Acute diarrhea: caused by water pollution and poor sanitation, is one of the leading causes of death among children under five.
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Chest infections and upper and lower respiratory diseases, such as pneumonia, due to crowded shelters and lack of heating and ventilation.
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Anemia: due to malnutrition and lack of essential nutrients such as iron and vitamins.
- Outbreaks of rashes: severe congestion, lack of clean water, and lack of hygiene kits are all ideal environments for skin infections.
How can the health of children in Gaza be improved?
Palestine Sawaeed Charity team is on an urgent campaign for the outbreak of rashes among children in Gaza, this disease includes bacterial infections, skin allergies, and leads to severe itching, ulcers, and sometimes chronic infections, especially in the absence of appropriate medicines and therapeutic ointments. Some cases also have psychological effects on children, increasing their physical and psychological suffering within the environment of war and displacement. Dealing with this outbreak requires urgent provision of water, hygiene and medicine, as well as improved shelter conditions and reduced overcrowding, to ensure that children are protected from preventable diseases if basic human conditions are met.
