Gaza’s Children, Elderly Face Dire Crisis: Malnutrition Soars, Amputations Rise
Aid Collapse Fuels Worsening Conditions
The devastating impact of Israel’s military operations in Gaza is disproportionately affecting its youngest and oldest residents. The United Nations reports a sharp increase in amputations, long-term disabilities, and severe hunger, with children and the elderly bearing the heaviest burden.
Child Malnutrition Reaches Alarming Levels
Alarming statistics reveal that one in every ten children screened at UNRWA medical facilities is suffering from malnutrition. UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini stated, “One in 10 children screened in UNRWA medical facilities is malnourished.”
He further cautioned that child malnutrition is rapidly escalating amidst severe shortages of food and essential medical supplies. Tragically, a seven-month-old baby, Salam, recently died from malnutrition, underscoring the urgency of the escalating humanitarian crisis.
Before the current conflict began on October 7, 2023, approximately 500 aid trucks entered Gaza daily. This figure has plummeted to fewer than 80 trucks per day. The situation worsened in March when Israel imposed a blockade, halting aid deliveries entirely for nearly three months. Since May 27, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a private contractor supported by Israel and the United States, has taken over aid operations, consolidating 400 local distribution points into just four “mega-sites.” These sites have become perilous locations, with reports of Israeli forces opening fire on Palestinians seeking sustenance, many of whom must travel several kilometers to reach them.
More than 870 individuals have been killed attempting to access aid from GHF distribution points, including at least 94 children and 11 elderly people. Despite widespread criticism, the GHF remains the sole provider of food within the Gaza Strip. According to UNRWA, over 6,000 trucks of vital supplies remain outside Gaza, waiting for clearance to enter.
Devastating Impact on Children’s Health
The conflict has left a trail of severe injuries, with over 139,000 Palestinians injured as of July 1, 2025. A staggering 40,500 of these casualties are children. Experts anticipate that approximately one-quarter of those injured will require long-term rehabilitation. Daily, ten children are losing limbs, and fifteen children are left with potentially life-altering disabilities. By the close of 2024, over 5,200 children required significant rehabilitation, and at least 7,000 were living with permanent disabilities, though the true figures are likely higher due to the collapse of the healthcare system.
Children with disabilities are particularly vulnerable, facing increased risks of violence, neglect, and exclusion from essential services. Nearly half of registered child protection cases involve children with disabilities, many of whom are between seven and twelve years old.
The conflict has also led to a rise in conditions such as hearing and vision loss. Constant bombardment and explosions put an estimated 35,000 people at risk of temporary or permanent hearing impairment, according to the Atfaluna Society for Deaf Children.
Elderly and Disabled Face Extreme Hardship
Gaza’s elderly population is also suffering immensely. Of the 111,500 individuals aged 60 and above, 97 percent report health problems, 96 percent have chronic illnesses, and 86 percent live with disabilities. These conditions are exacerbated by medicine shortages, deteriorating hygiene, and the destruction of medical facilities. Tragically, at least 3,839 older people have been killed since the war commenced.
“Displacement is adding to the suffering of the elderly and people with disabilities. Many cannot flee at all due to mobility challenges, illness or the loss of assistive devices – with more than 83 percent reporting that their wheelchairs, walkers, hearing aids or prosthetics have been lost or destroyed,” states a new report on the Gaza crisis. @UNOCHA @WHO @UNICEF @UNRWA
— UN OCHA (@UNOCHA) July 16, 2025
Mass Displacement Compounds Suffering
A staggering 90 percent of Gaza’s population has been forcibly displaced, many multiple times. Since mid-March 2025, over 665,000 people have been uprooted, often with minimal or no access to basic necessities like food, water, shelter, and healthcare. Over 86 percent of Gaza’s territory is designated as no-go zones or under active evacuation orders, severely limiting safe movement.
For older adults and those with disabilities, displacement presents extreme challenges. Many are unable to flee due to mobility issues, illness, or the loss of essential assistive devices, with over 83 percent reporting the loss or destruction of wheelchairs, walkers, hearing aids, or prosthetics. Checkpoints have been made more difficult to traverse by sand mounds, hindering movement for those with mobility impairments. Additionally, unexploded ordnance contaminates roads, posing a significant threat to individuals with disabilities.
These dire conditions heighten the risk of separation from caregivers, particularly for children and the elderly with disabilities who may struggle with communication and independent movement. Once separated, these vulnerable individuals face a substantially higher risk of injury, death, abuse, and exclusion from critical services, compounding the dangers of war with profound and lasting harm.
