News- Middle East: The UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) has issued a warning about a significant increase in malnutrition cases as Israel’s total blockade of the besieged Palestinian territory enters its 103rd day.

In a statement released on Sunday, the agency noted that one of its clinics in Gaza has reported a rise in malnutrition cases since March, when the Israeli siege began.

“UNRWA hasn’t been permitted to bring in any humanitarian aid since then,” it stated.

Dozens of Palestinian children have died from hunger in Gaza since October 2023. The healthcare system in Gaza is also on the brink of collapse due to Israel’s targeting of hospitals and health centers.

As complications from severe malnutrition increase, children requiring hospitalization face a deteriorating health system.

UNRWA also highlighted that the ongoing closure of border crossings by Israel has obstructed the entry of fuel, medicines, and medical equipment.

“Despite a critical shortage of supplies essential for treatment, our teams continue their work in Gaza to support the most vulnerable, including conducting nutritional assessments for children,” it added.

The ongoing fuel crisis poses a threat to the remaining medical facilities still operational in the strip. “The fuel shortage in Gaza has reached critical levels,” UNRWA stated in a joint message with several UN organizations on Sunday.

The agency further warned of a potential “collapse of humanitarian efforts” in Gaza, as vital services—including hospital operations, water systems, sanitation networks, and ambulance services—are adversely affected.

“Without adequate fuel, UN agencies responding to this crisis may be compelled to cease their operations entirely, directly impacting all essential services in Gaza,” it warned.

“This means no health services, no clean water, and no capacity to deliver aid,” it stressed, calling for a consistent supply of sufficient fuel to enter the Gaza Strip to "sustain life-saving operations.”

These warnings come amidst continued Israeli military aggression targeting starving Palestinians.

In Gaza, the UN human rights office has documented the killing of nearly 800 Palestinians seeking aid from Israeli forces, with most deaths occurring at aid points managed by the controversial Israel-US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF).

Rejecting international calls for a ceasefire, the Israeli army has maintained a relentless offensive on the Gaza Strip since October 7, 2023, resulting in the deaths of over 58,000 Palestinians, the majority of whom are women and children.

 The ongoing bombardment has devastated the besieged region, leading to food shortages and the spread of diseases.

Almost the entire population of more than 2 million people in Gaza has been forcibly displaced at least once during the war, which has created dire humanitarian conditions in the Palestinian territory.

Last November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former war minister, Yoav Gallant, for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

Source: Press TV