Save the Children: ‘In Gaza, 74,000 children under the age of five are at risk of acute malnutrition’

“Acute malnutrition, particularly among children, has fallen significantly, thanks to a substantial expansion of nutritional programmes” – continues the IPC – “however, it is estimated that around 74,200 children aged between 6 and 59 months will require treatment for acute malnutrition by April 2027. Adults continue to reduce their own food intake to prioritise their children. It is estimated that around 24,600 pregnant and breastfeeding women will suffer from acute malnutrition during the same period.”

Save the Children points out that the IPC attributes the recent improvements in nutritional status to the increase in humanitarian aid entering the Gaza Strip following last October’s ceasefire, whilst emphasising, however, that ‘since the beginning of February 2026, the flow of aid has gradually declined, with a sharp reduction in the distribution of nutritious food and in the number of nutritional support programmes’.

“At the same time, Save the Children staff report that the markets are full of products, such as crisps and chocolate, which are sold at high prices and have little nutritional value, whilst the most vulnerable families continue to struggle to buy healthy, good-quality food at affordable prices,” adds the NGO.

“The latest IPC assessment should not be interpreted as a sign of recovery for the children of Gaza. Rather, it is a warning: humanitarian aid has helped to avert an even greater catastrophe, but the progress made remains extremely fragile. Food intake is still insufficient, humanitarian aid is the only lifeline for most families, and any disruption to humanitarian access risks undoing the modest gains that have been made,” says Ahmad Alhendawi, Save the Children’s Director for the Middle East, North Africa and Eastern Europe.

“Children should not continue to pay the price for political inaction. Any delay in ensuring safe, continuous and uninterrupted humanitarian access exposes a growing number of children to the risk of hunger, malnutrition and preventable diseases. Governments must use all the tools at their disposal to secure a permanent ceasefire, ensure safe, continuous and regular humanitarian access, restore essential services and create the conditions for Palestinian children not only to survive, but also to recover and build their own future,” concludes Save the Children’s Director for the Middle East.