New York: According to UNICEF’s latest figures, severe malnutrition rates across Gaza jumped to 13.5% in August, up from 8.3% in July. In Gaza City, where famine conditions have been confirmed, the rate climbed to 19%, compared to 16% the previous month.

Catherine Russell, Executive Director of UNICEF, said the findings reveal a dire reality. “One in five children in Gaza City was diagnosed with acute malnutrition during August and needed additional life-saving nutritional support provided by UNICEF,” she stressed.

The agency confirmed it has managed to bring in additional supplies, but ongoing military escalation has forced nearly 10 feeding centers to close, further limiting access to vital care. Russell urged protection of nutrition services across Gaza, saying: “No child should suffer from malnutrition, which we can prevent and treat when we have access and deliver aid safely.”