Doctors at hospitals run by ActionAid's partner organization, the Community Return Association, in Gaza reported a sharp increase in cases of acute malnutrition among pregnant and breastfeeding women, as well as among young children, amid the ongoing complete blockade on aid entry and the depletion of remaining food supplies.

The foundation explained in a statement issued Wednesday that no food, clean water, medicine, or other essential supplies have entered Gaza for more than 45 days after Israeli authorities closed all border crossings and prevented the entry of all aid, amounting to collective punishment and starvation of the population.

She noted that people are suffering from hunger and rapidly deteriorating health due to the severe food shortage, which has led to the closure of bakeries and community kitchens, and left markets empty of most supplies.

She cited the testimony of pediatrician Dr. Wissal Abu Laban, head of the therapeutic nutrition department at the Al-Awda Community Hospital and Foundation in Nuseirat, central Gaza, who said, "The impact on pregnant and breastfeeding women was very clear."

She added, "We have noticed a very significant increase in the number of pregnant and breastfeeding women suffering from severe and moderate malnutrition. This is all a result of the blockade over the past month and the closure of the crossings. All of them suffer from anemia and iron deficiency due to the lack of food or nutritional supplements, which negatively impacts pregnancy."

She pointed out that most babies are born with a lower than normal weight. "Most of the cases we see now... involve babies with a low birth weight of less than 2.5 kilograms. Of course, there is a direct link between this and the pregnant mother's own nutrition."

She continued: "There are also cases of miscarriage and bleeding among women due to anemia during pregnancy." A recent survey conducted by the Nutrition Group found that "between 10% and 20% of pregnant and breastfeeding women suffer from malnutrition, while a third of pregnant women in Gaza – estimated at 55,000 – face high-risk pregnancies."

About 130 babies are born in Gaza every day, but essential medical supplies—such as anesthetics for delivery, painkillers, antibiotics, and blood units needed for complicated cases—are running out, according to the World Health Organization.

Malnutrition is also on the rise among young children, with medical sources in Gaza estimating that some 60,000 children are at risk of serious health complications due to malnutrition.

At the same time, access to medical care has become difficult, as UNICEF was forced to close 21 of its nutrition centers due to Israeli shelling or forced evacuation orders, leaving hundreds of children without access to treatment.

"After more than six weeks of deliberately and completely blocking aid to Gaza, the devastating consequences of this illegal and egregious decision are beginning to become clear," said Reham Jafari, ActionAid Palestine's communications and advocacy officer.

“Severe malnutrition is on the rise among pregnant women – threatening their lives and those of their children – and among young children, with catastrophic, lifelong health consequences. Every day the blockade on aid continues, this humanitarian catastrophe worsens,” she added. “The time for condemnation is over. People in Gaza who have not been killed in the relentless daily bombardment now face the risk of starvation. The international community must act immediately to bring a permanent end to this war, ensure the full withdrawal of the Israeli army from Gaza, as stipulated in the ceasefire agreement, and allow immediate and widespread access to life-saving aid to prevent the humanitarian catastrophe from worsening further.”