The head of the World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, has raised serious concerns over growing hunger in Gaza. On Wednesday, he warned that a large number of people in the region are starving due to food shortages and restricted aid. He called the situation “mass starvation” and stressed that it is a man-made crisis, not caused by natural factors but by ongoing conflict and blockades.
Despite a slight increase in aid since late May, Gaza’s population of 2.1 million continues to face extreme shortages of food, water, and medicine. Tedros pointed out that food deliveries are still far below what is needed for people to survive. Several humanitarian organizations, including Oxfam and Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), also joined in calling the situation urgent and worsening.
Additionally, Tedros shared alarming health data. Over 10 percent of Gaza’s children now suffer from severe malnutrition, and more than 20 percent of pregnant or breastfeeding women are also malnourished. According to the WHO, at least 21 children under five have died due to hunger since January. However, the real number could be higher due to limited access and poor reporting.
Moreover, the director of Gaza’s largest hospital confirmed that 21 children had died from starvation within just three days. Tedros said the hunger crisis is growing faster due to blocked aid routes and a lack of access for humanitarian workers. He firmly stated that the crisis is being fueled by Israel’s blockade and continued restrictions.
The United Nations rights office also revealed that more than 1,000 Palestinians have been killed while trying to collect food aid since late May. Starving people are risking their lives just to reach trucks carrying food and supplies. This has drawn global attention and increased pressure on Israel to allow safer aid access.
Tedros ended his statement with a strong call for action. He demanded a full ceasefire, immediate humanitarian access, and a lasting political solution. Without urgent changes, millions in Gaza will continue to suffer not just from war, but from hunger that could have been prevented.