UN Warns of Potential Deaths of 14,000 Babies in Gaza as Airstrikes Claim Lives

The United Nations(UN) has issued a dire warning that thousands of infants in Gaza could perish within days without immediate ‘food and medical assistance ‘ as Israel permitted a limited number of humanitarian trucks to enter the region for the first time in weeks.

The ongoing crisis is exacerbated by relentless attacks on vital infrastructure, with Medical Aid for Palestinians urging the protection of “healthcare facilities ” after the bombing of Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, which resulted in numerous fatalities. 

These assaults have not only damaged essential medical supplies but also contravened international law, as highlighted by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), which reported strikes on Al Awda hospital and the closure of two clinics in Khan Younis due to direct hits.

Additionally, new evacuation orders from Israeli authorities have affected 40 neighborhoods in Khan Younis, impacting thousands of residents and numerous humanitarian facilities. 

While the UN has received permission to send around 100 aid trucks into Gaza after an 11-week blockade, UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher described the situation as “catastrophic,” warning that without urgent nutrition and care, 14,000 babies could die within 48 hours. 

“This is not food that Hamas is going to steal,” he told the BBC. 

“We run the risk of looting, of being hit by the Israeli offensive. We will be impeded. We will run huge risks. But I don’t see a better option than getting baby food in to the mothers, who at the moment cannot feed their own children.”

However, only five trucks managed to enter on Monday, with Fletcher emphasizing that the current aid is merely “a drop in the ocean.”

Prior to the conflict, Gaza was receiving around 500 aid trucks daily, but this changed dramatically after Hamas’s attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, which resulted in approximately 1,200 deaths and 250 hostages.

In retaliation, Israel imposed a complete blockade on Gaza, stopping all supplies, including humanitarian aid, leading to a significant drop in aid deliveries. 

The situation worsened recently, with Gaza’s Health Ministry reporting at least 38 Palestinian casualties from Israeli airstrikes in just half an hour. On the same day that aid resumed, the UK, France, and Canada condemned Israel’s humanitarian restrictions as insufficient and called for an end to military actions, warning of potential consequences if Israel did not comply.

In response, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused Western leaders of supporting the attack on Israel and pledged to continue military efforts until total victory was achieved. 

Later, the UK announced it was halting trade talks with Israel and summoned the Israeli ambassador, with Foreign Secretary David Lammy urging an end to the blockade, stating that the world and history would judge their actions.

 Earlier this month, Israel expanded its military operations in Gaza, aiming for full occupation, with airstrikes escalating after former U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent visit to the Middle East. 

Gaza’s Health Ministry reported that 300 Palestinians were killed by airstrikes in the 72 hours leading up to May 19, bringing the total death toll since the war began to over 53,000. In Deir al-Balah, Oday Basheer runs one of the few remaining community kitchens, highlighting the dire situation by stating that starvation is being used as a weapon against them, making it impossible for people to function when they are constantly -“hungry and fighting for food.”

Since the ceasefire ended in mid-March, over 500,000 people have been displaced in Gaza, according to the UN.

Basheer, who has lost many loved ones in recent airstrikes, lives in constant fear. He worries that his home could be destroyed at any moment, often glancing at the sky to watch for drones. “The threat feels real; with just one button press, everything could change. ” he added .

In his kitchen, he used to prepare six pots of food each day, but now he makes 15 to feed around 250 people each time. However, rising prices are making it difficult to keep up. Since March 18, the cost of flour has skyrocketed by 5,000%, and cooking oil has increased by 1,200%. “100 trucks of supplies would be enough to meet the needs of the community. ” he said .