Malnutrition across the Gaza Strip has reached alarming levels, with nearly half a million people now living in famine-like conditions, according to UNICEF. The organization’s Deputy Executive Director, Ted Chaiban, described the situation as “catastrophic,” warning that Gaza’s humanitarian crisis is spiraling out of control.
Chaiban told Fox News that 22 months of conflict and a two-month-long Israeli blockade have left civilians in dire need. He recently returned from Gaza and reported seeing severely malnourished children, empty markets, and widespread suffering.
UNICEF, alongside the World Food Programme and the Food and Agriculture Organization, is distributing food and nutritional aid. However, Chaiban emphasized that humanitarian efforts alone cannot meet the scale of the crisis. He called on Israel to allow more commercial access and remove restrictions on vital supplies like water pipes and other dual-use items.
The agency also urged Israeli authorities to approve more aid partners to operate inside Gaza, as current access remains highly limited. Although hundreds of aid trucks and airdrops from Jordan and the UAE have increased relief efforts recently, only about 100 trucks a day are entering Gaza. The UN estimates that 400 to 500 trucks are needed daily to meet the urgent needs.
Chaiban stressed the importance of using all available routes to deliver aid and build upon recent humanitarian pauses. He added that the only long-term solution to the crisis is a ceasefire and the release of hostages, which would provide lasting relief to the millions suffering in Gaza.
