Gaza: 'Man-Made' Malnutrition Severely Impacts Pregnant Women and Newborns – Urgent Call for Adequate Aid and Supply Delivery
Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) announced that 'man-made' malnutrition in the Gaza Strip is severely affecting pregnant women and newborns. Intense fighting and siege in mid-2025 led to increased premature births and infant mortality, with aid and supply delivery stoppages identified as a primary cause. MSF is urging Israeli authorities to cease obstructing aid.
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- 📰 Published: May 9, 2026 at 01:17
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PALESTINE, GAZA STRIP – 'Man-made' malnutrition in the Gaza Strip has had a devastating impact on pregnant and breastfeeding women, newborns, and infants under six months old. The impact was particularly significant during periods of intense fighting and siege, such as in mid-2025. Data released by Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) revealed this grim reality.
From late 2024 to early 2026, MSF-managed and supported medical facilities observed higher rates of premature births and deaths, as well as numerous miscarriages, among infants born to women affected by malnutrition during pregnancy. It was also found that there was a sharp increase in treatment interruptions for malnourished children.
MSF attributes these circumstances to the cessation of essential supply deliveries and attacks on civilian infrastructure, including medical facilities. The combination of deteriorating security, displacement, restricted aid, and lack of access to food and medical care has profoundly affected the health of mothers and newborns.
Even with the current ceasefire, the situation in Gaza remains extremely unstable. MSF urges Israeli authorities to refrain from hindering the delivery of essential aid and supplies vital for saving lives in Gaza.
**Devastating Impact of Malnutrition During Pregnancy**
Merced Rocaspana, MSF's Emergency Medical Leader, states:
“The malnutrition crisis is entirely man-made. Before the conflict, malnutrition was rarely seen in Gaza. However, two and a half years of significant security threats, coupled with systematic restrictions on humanitarian aid and supplies, have made it difficult for people to even obtain food and safety. Medical facilities have been forced to cease functioning, and living conditions have deteriorated significantly. As a result, vulnerable people are at high risk of malnutrition.”
From June 2025 to January 2026, MSF analyzed data from 201 mothers of newborns treated in the Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs) at Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis and Al-Helou Hospital in Gaza City. More than half of the mothers were affected by malnutrition at some point during their pregnancy, and 25% were still malnourished at the time of delivery.
Among infants born to malnourished mothers, 90% were premature, and 84% had low birth weight. These rates are significantly higher compared to infants born to mothers who were not malnourished at delivery. Furthermore, the neonatal mortality rate was twice as high for infants born to malnourished mothers compared to those born to mothers unaffected by malnutrition.
**Displacement and Deteriorating Security Impede Treatment**
Between October 2024 and December 2025, MSF provided outpatient nutritional treatment to 513 infants under six months old at the Mawasi and Attar clinics in Khan Yunis. 91% of these infants were at risk of adverse effects on their growth and development. By December, 200 infants were exited from the program, but only 48% were cured. 7% died, 7% were transferred to programs for older children, and a high proportion of 32% interrupted treatment. The main reasons were deteriorating security and displacement.
Marina Pomares, Palestinian Medical Coordinator, notes:
“Fewer children received treatment from late July to early August 2025. This coincided with a period of worsening security and disrupted food distributions. Many mothers sought nutritional support even if their children were not yet diagnosed with malnutrition because food insecurity was widespread due to Israel's blockade, which effectively prevented food from entering Gaza for months. Families often prioritized men and children over mothers when sharing limited food.”
**'Man-Made' Malnutrition Crisis**
Before the conflict, MSF did not have specialized nutritional therapy teams in Gaza. However, in January 2024, the first case of child malnutrition was confirmed. Since then, by March 2026, 4950 children under 15 (98% of whom were under five) were admitted for acute malnutrition in outpatient and inpatient programs. During the same period, 3482 pregnant and breastfeeding women were enrolled in outpatient programs.
Mona, a 23-year-old woman treated by MSF, shares:
“My youngest son died of severe malnutrition at five months old. I myself became malnourished during pregnancy and suffered from diarrhea and weakness. I still live in a partially destroyed house. My husband was a fisherman with a small boat, but it was destroyed by Israeli shelling. We have no stable income.”
The ceasefire in January 2025 ended in mid-March 2025. By late May 2025, food distribution points under the Gaza Humanitarian Fund (GHF) were established.
From late 2024 to early 2026, MSF-managed and supported medical facilities observed higher rates of premature births and deaths, as well as numerous miscarriages, among infants born to women affected by malnutrition during pregnancy. It was also found that there was a sharp increase in treatment interruptions for malnourished children.
MSF attributes these circumstances to the cessation of essential supply deliveries and attacks on civilian infrastructure, including medical facilities. The combination of deteriorating security, displacement, restricted aid, and lack of access to food and medical care has profoundly affected the health of mothers and newborns.
Even with the current ceasefire, the situation in Gaza remains extremely unstable. MSF urges Israeli authorities to refrain from hindering the delivery of essential aid and supplies vital for saving lives in Gaza.
**Devastating Impact of Malnutrition During Pregnancy**
Merced Rocaspana, MSF's Emergency Medical Leader, states:
“The malnutrition crisis is entirely man-made. Before the conflict, malnutrition was rarely seen in Gaza. However, two and a half years of significant security threats, coupled with systematic restrictions on humanitarian aid and supplies, have made it difficult for people to even obtain food and safety. Medical facilities have been forced to cease functioning, and living conditions have deteriorated significantly. As a result, vulnerable people are at high risk of malnutrition.”
From June 2025 to January 2026, MSF analyzed data from 201 mothers of newborns treated in the Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs) at Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis and Al-Helou Hospital in Gaza City. More than half of the mothers were affected by malnutrition at some point during their pregnancy, and 25% were still malnourished at the time of delivery.
Among infants born to malnourished mothers, 90% were premature, and 84% had low birth weight. These rates are significantly higher compared to infants born to mothers who were not malnourished at delivery. Furthermore, the neonatal mortality rate was twice as high for infants born to malnourished mothers compared to those born to mothers unaffected by malnutrition.
**Displacement and Deteriorating Security Impede Treatment**
Between October 2024 and December 2025, MSF provided outpatient nutritional treatment to 513 infants under six months old at the Mawasi and Attar clinics in Khan Yunis. 91% of these infants were at risk of adverse effects on their growth and development. By December, 200 infants were exited from the program, but only 48% were cured. 7% died, 7% were transferred to programs for older children, and a high proportion of 32% interrupted treatment. The main reasons were deteriorating security and displacement.
Marina Pomares, Palestinian Medical Coordinator, notes:
“Fewer children received treatment from late July to early August 2025. This coincided with a period of worsening security and disrupted food distributions. Many mothers sought nutritional support even if their children were not yet diagnosed with malnutrition because food insecurity was widespread due to Israel's blockade, which effectively prevented food from entering Gaza for months. Families often prioritized men and children over mothers when sharing limited food.”
**'Man-Made' Malnutrition Crisis**
Before the conflict, MSF did not have specialized nutritional therapy teams in Gaza. However, in January 2024, the first case of child malnutrition was confirmed. Since then, by March 2026, 4950 children under 15 (98% of whom were under five) were admitted for acute malnutrition in outpatient and inpatient programs. During the same period, 3482 pregnant and breastfeeding women were enrolled in outpatient programs.
Mona, a 23-year-old woman treated by MSF, shares:
“My youngest son died of severe malnutrition at five months old. I myself became malnourished during pregnancy and suffered from diarrhea and weakness. I still live in a partially destroyed house. My husband was a fisherman with a small boat, but it was destroyed by Israeli shelling. We have no stable income.”
The ceasefire in January 2025 ended in mid-March 2025. By late May 2025, food distribution points under the Gaza Humanitarian Fund (GHF) were established.