UNICEF has issued a stark warning over the potential surge in child deaths in Gaza, where two years of genocidal war have left the population devastated and malnourished. The agency called for the immediate reopening of all humanitarian aid crossings, stressing that the health of children, particularly infants, is at extreme risk due to severely compromised immune systems.

“Without urgent action, we face a dramatic increase in child mortality, including among newborns and infants whose immune systems are weaker than ever,” said UNICEF spokesperson Ricardo Pires. His warning came as a fragile ceasefire, brokered by the United States, came into effect on Friday, and Israeli forces began a partial withdrawal from sections of the Gaza Strip.

The withdrawal has revealed the scale of destruction across residential areas, with tens of thousands of children facing severe malnutrition and urgent medical needs. UNICEF estimates that approximately 50,000 children require immediate nutritional support. “These children have gone without adequate food for far too long,” Pires said. “They need essential vitamins and nutrients to survive, grow, and withstand disease and environmental stresses.”

The World Health Organization also reiterated its call for sustained and secure humanitarian access, warning that the blockade and lack of aid continue to threaten the lives of civilians. Since the start of the genocidal war on 7 October 2023, more than 67,000 Palestinians have been killed, underscoring the urgent need for immediate relief and long-term reconstruction.