This is a dire situation: half of Gaza's population is currently at risk of famine.
What exactly does "famine" mean, and how does it affect children and their families?
A famine is rarely declared.
It is so severe it means at least 20% of households are facing extreme lack of food and at least 30% of children are suffering extreme malnutrition.
And right now, nearly six months into the war in Gaza, half of the people in Gaza are at risk of famine, and the entire population is facing crisis levels of food insecurity. In fact, a new Integrated Food Security Phase Classification report states that more than 1 million people in Gaza could face famine by the summer if the violence escalates further – with more than 200 people dying from starvation each day.
Food shortages cause severe acute malnutrition. This means your vision blurs, hair becomes brittle, skin peels, feet and ankles swell, muscles break down and waste away and exhaustion overwhelms the body. If not treated, this can lead to death.
Famine isn’t just happening in Gaza. In Sudan, over 9 million children are facing severe food shortages as conflict disrupts crop production. In Haiti, 22% of children are suffering from stunting due to malnutrition. And across the entire globe, a staggering 153 million children are facing food insecurity.
That’s why Save the Children is working tirelessly around the world to support families and communities with food, medical treatment, training for health care workers, cash and other supplies so children have access to the nutrition they need to grow up healthy.
Our team in Egypt oversees the preparation and loading of the shelter and cold weather kits for families and people in Gaza. 1,400 kits, costing approximately $394 each, were prepared and sent to Rafah.
Our programs help millions of children and families all over the world every year. But we can’t do it alone.
P.S.: We were heartbroken by the recent news that World Central Kitchen staff – like many other aid workers – lost their lives while saving others. The work of humanitarians in Gaza is vital and protected under international humanitarian law. The pattern of attacks on aid workers is an outrage. We need safe unfettered humanitarian access, a definitive ceasefire and the release of all hostages now.
