GAZA, (PIC)
Health reports are warning of an unprecedented deterioration in the condition of children in Gaza, as ongoing war and blockade drive a deepening humanitarian crisis that could have long-term consequences for an entire generation.
According to a report cited by Al-Jazeera, thousands of children in Gaza are at risk of anemia and worsening skin diseases due to severe food shortages, lack of essential vitamins, and limited access to basic hygiene supplies.
Medical professionals say anemia rates have surged dramatically, from around 10 percent before the war to nearly 70 percent now, driven by acute malnutrition and the inability of families to secure basic dietary needs, particularly for children.
The crisis extends beyond anemia. Doctors report a growing spread of complex skin conditions among children, linked to the scarcity of clean water and personal hygiene products, which are either unavailable or unaffordable. As a result, many children are suffering from persistent infections and skin lesions.
These developments come amid a broader collapse of Gaza’s health system. Previous reports have warned of the re-emergence of diseases largely eradicated elsewhere, including rickets and neuropathy, due to vitamin deficiencies and chronic malnutrition, alongside record-high anemia rates across the population.
Hospitals are also facing critical shortages of medicines and medical supplies, as well as a severe decline in blood unit availability, placing the lives of the wounded and chronically ill at heightened risk, particularly as casualties continue to rise and border crossings remain closed to medical aid.
Health experts caution that these conditions could leave lasting effects on children, including impaired physical and cognitive development, weakened immune systems, and increased vulnerability to chronic diseases that may persist for years.
Amid these warnings, international calls are growing for urgent action to ease restrictions on the entry of food and medicine and to prevent the collapse of what remains of Gaza’s healthcare system before the crisis escalates into a prolonged public health catastrophe.
