Overview
- UNICEF reported 9,300 children treated for severe acute malnutrition in October, down from more than 14,000 in August but about five times the February level.
- About 8,300 pregnant and breastfeeding women were hospitalized for acute malnutrition in October, with UNICEF warning of a surge in low-birthweight births.
- UN data show UN-coordinated aid averaged roughly 140 trucks per day in December against a 600-truck daily target, with delays, denials at crossings and route closures cited.
- Diplomats and aid officials say the Israeli army retains final authority over what enters Gaza, while scarce commercial imports keep prices high, including meat at about $20 per kilogram.
- A UNICEF spokesperson described newborns under 1 kilogram fighting to survive and reported at least 165 child deaths linked to malnutrition during the war, urging the opening of all crossings to speed nutritious food and medical support.