Thousands of infants in Gaza face hunger and illness due to a shortage of baby formula, pushing desperate mothers to use fresh milk meant for older babies, revealed a Jordanian pediatrician who recently visited the region.
Ammar Alhmoud, volunteering with the International Medical Corps, shed light on the dire conditions affecting children in Gaza, where an Israeli offensive has displaced nearly 2.3 million people, triggered a starvation crisis, and claimed over 35,000 lives, according to Gaza’s health ministry.
Alhmoud stressed the severe consequences of the Israeli aggression, particularly the scarcity of vital supplies such as vaccines, formula milk, and food. He pointed out the dwindling vaccine availability, mainly stored in increasingly inaccessible UNRWA centers, worsening the health risks for Gaza’s children.
The lack of proper nutrition for infants due to formula shortages and inadequate breastfeeding, compounded by food scarcities and maternal health issues, leaves mothers with no choice but to turn to fresh milk intended for older babies.
Moreover, overcrowded living conditions in tents or makeshift schools deprive mothers of privacy and suitable spaces for breastfeeding, hindering their ability to nourish their infants adequately.
Alhmoud highlighted the surge in preventable diseases among children due to limited access to clean water, vaccines, and other essentials. He cited the tragic deaths of two teenagers from liver disease, preventable with proper vaccination and access to clean water.
The UN aid office stressed the urgent need to repair the Deir Balah water pipeline, vital for supplying clean water to Gaza’s population, especially amidst rising disease rates linked to poor sanitation and malnutrition.
The pediatrician also noted the shortage of medical equipment like incubators, critical for newborn care, limited to certain hospitals in Gaza, straining efforts to meet the growing demand for specialized neonatal care.
Furthermore, Alhmoud highlighted the soaring costs of essential food items like vegetables, fruits, eggs, and milk, with a carton of eggs priced at JD40, exacerbating the plight of Gazans.
The Foreign Ministry reported multiple Israeli attacks on Jordanian aid trucks bound for Gaza, impeding the delivery of crucial aid and exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in the wake of the Israeli incursion into Rafah.
