Gaza, April 05 (QNA) - Palestinian Children's Day, marked annually on April 5, comes this year as children in Gaza Strip, particularly infants, face catastrophic humanitarian conditions amid a worsening malnutrition crisis and a severe shortage of infant formula for babies from one day old up to one year.

Doctors and officials warned of a serious deterioration in children's nutritional status, with hundreds of cases arriving daily at malnutrition clinics amid acute shortages of essential supplies, especially therapeutic milk. They stressed in statements to Qatar News Agency (QNA) that the deepening crisis threatens children's lives and brings scenes of famine and malnutrition back to the forefront.

In this context, Head of Pediatrics and Maternity at Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis, Dr. Ahmed Al Fara, said the malnutrition clinic receives around 100 children on designated clinic days each week, including about 30 cases of severe malnutrition and 20 cases of moderate malnutrition, while the remaining cases are linked to illnesses caused by nutritional deficiencies. He noted a severe shortage of essential supplies, particularly infant formula, which is limiting the ability of medical teams to provide necessary treatment for infants.

For her part, Head of the Nutrition Department at Nasser Medical Complex, Dr. Israa Al Najjar, stated that the crisis has worsened in recent weeks. She explained that the clinic receives about 100 cases daily, with 30 percent suffering from severe malnutrition and 50 percent from moderate malnutrition. She added that there is a significant shortage of specialized formula for malnourished infants, noting that distribution has been halted for the past two weeks, and the limited available quantities are only sufficient for a few days, leading to a deterioration in children's health and posing serious risks to their growth and development.

In the broader context, Spokesperson for the Ministry of Social Development in Gaza, Aziza Al Kahlout, said that Palestinian Children's Day comes this year amid what she described as an unprecedented aggression against children in the Strip, who have been among its primary victims despite international conventions that guarantee their rights.

She stated that more than 21,510 children have been killed since the start of the genocide in Gaza, while over 41,283 have been injured, with thousands still missing under the rubble. She noted that the conflict affected all aspects of children's lives, depriving them of their basic rights to life, health, food, education, and safety.

Al Kahlout added that thousands of children are living with permanent disabilities as a result of injuries, with around 15 new disability cases recorded daily. The number of child amputees reached 864, in addition to 1,268 cases of brain and spinal cord injuries, amid the collapse of the healthcare system and shortages of medical supplies.

She also pointed to the presence of around 18,000 unaccompanied or separated children, reflecting the scale of humanitarian catastrophe facing children in the Strip.

She called for urgent international action to protect Palestinian children, activate the role of international organizations in safeguarding their rights, and ensure a safe environment that guarantees them a dignified life, education, and healthcare, free from ongoing violations.

On the daily struggles faced by Palestinian families, Amjad Ashour, father of a four-month-old infant, said his child relies entirely on formula at a time when the market is experiencing severe shortages and soaring prices beyond families' means.

Speaking to QNA during a visit to the malnutrition department at Nasser Hospital in southern Gaza, he noted that some organizations provide limited assistance, but it is inconsistent, leaving families in constant anxiety over how to secure food and milk for their children, warning of the serious impact on infants' health and survival. (QNA)