UNICEF warns of skyrocketing child deaths in Gaza amid lack of aid
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UNICEF warns of rising child deaths due to severe malnutrition in Gaza, calling for full access to aid during the ceasefire agreement amid "Israel's" ongoing blockade.
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A displaced Palestinian woman carries her baby as she walks with others along the coastal road near Wadi Gaza in the central Gaza Strip, heading toward Gaza City, Friday, Oct. 10, 2025 (AP)
The United Nations children's agency UNICEF on Friday urged that every entry point for food assistance into the war-ravaged Gaza Strip be opened, emphasizing that children in the enclave face acute vulnerability as they have endured extended periods without adequate nourishment.
"The situation is critical. We risk seeing a massive spike in child death, not only neonatal, but also infants, given their immune systems are more compromised than ever before," UNICEF spokesperson Ricardo Pires stated. He added that children’s immune systems are severely weakened since they have gone far too long without sufficient or proper nutrition.
A senior United Nations official said on Thursday that the UN intends to significantly increase the flow of humanitarian aid to Gaza, where certain areas are facing famine, during the first 60 days of a ceasefire in the territory.
Ross Smith, WFP Director of Emergencies, told Reuters that the WFP will have more than 145 community aid distribution points, as well as over 30 bakeries and all of the WFP's nutrition sites under the ceasefire agreement. The World Food Programme expects to begin scaling up deliveries early next week, although this will rely on Israeli forces pulling back to allow the expansion of humanitarian safe zones.
The WFP emphasized that access to northern Gaza is essential, noting that up to 400,000 people have gone several weeks without receiving aid.
Furthermore, the agency has called for faster scanning and approval of aid convoys to accelerate the entry of trucks.
UNICEF evacuates two babies from northern Gaza
UNICEF reported that 50,000 children in Gaza face acute malnutrition and require urgent treatment, noting that the organization also plans to distribute one million blankets to children in the territory while aiming to deliver wheelchairs and crutches that had previously been prevented from reaching those in need.
The UN agency additionally reported that it has evacuated two of 18 newborns from a hospital in North Gaza to reunite them with their parents further south, after an earlier attempt on Thursday was obstructed due to ongoing Israeli military attacks on the city. The children have now been reunited with their families.
"We had 18 babies in incubators at the beginning of week. Two got moved yesterday," UNICEF Spokesperson Ricardo Pires told a press briefing, noting that the other babies are in incubators waiting for transfer. "I hope this is just an example of what will come after the ceasefire is fully implemented," the UNICEF spokesperson added.
Humanitarian aid agencies face obstruction by 'Israel'
Both UNICEF and the UN agency for Palestinian refugee relief, UNRWA, stated that they have not yet been provided with details regarding their responsibilities during the ceasefire.
UNRWA, which is prohibited from operating in "Israel", has called on Israeli authorities to permit the entry of 6,000 truckloads of aid into Gaza from Jordan and Egypt, including enough food to sustain the population for three months
"We've not had any progress to move those supplies into Gaza ... and this is absolutely critical in controlling the spread of famine," UNRWA spokesperson Juliette Touma told Reuters.
CARE International told Reuters on Friday that it has not yet received clearance to deliver its supplies to Gaza, facing ongoing registration barriers similar to other agencies, such as the Norwegian Refugee Council.
Jolien Veldwijk, CARE’s Palestine Country Director, said they still need clear guidance on how to bring in supplies that have been held outside for months
