Four-year-old Razan Abu Zaher has tragically lost her battle for survival in Gaza, succumbing to complications related to severe malnutrition and hunger on Sunday. According to medical sources, she passed away in a central Gaza hospital, with her frail, undernourished body laid on a stone slab. This heartbreaking incident is part of a larger crisis, as reported by the Palestinian health ministry, which indicates that at least 76 children and ten adults have died from malnutrition since the conflict erupted in October 2023.
In recent days, the situation has escalated dramatically, with 18 deaths recorded in just 24 hours due to famine-related causes. Razan was among several children, including a mere three-month-old infant, who have died in the past few days alone. A month prior, CNN had highlighted Razan’s condition, noting her alarming weakness and the lack of accessible food and nutrition. Her mother, Tahrir Abu Zwar, lamented their inability to afford the scarce availability of even basic resources like milk, which was difficult to find.
Razan was hospitalised for 12 days before her death, caught in a deteriorating humanitarian scenario. The flow of aid to Gaza has significantly decreased since March due to an Israeli blockade. Although some restrictions saw partial lifts in May, humanitarian agencies report that the assistance reaching Gaza remains insufficient to meet the urgent needs of the population.
Israeli authorities claim that aid shipments have been hampered by concerns over Hamas seizing the supplies, while humanitarian organisations contend that bureaucratic and military obstacles hinder their efforts to distribute aid effectively. COGAT, the Israeli agency responsible for monitoring aid into Gaza, insists they are making efforts to facilitate necessary food supplies.
Before the conflict started, Gaza was already heavily reliant on external food and aid supplies. The ongoing shortages of not just food, but also medical supplies and fuel, have exacerbated the crisis, pushing people in dire situations to overcrowded hospitals. Medical professionals are warning of a catastrophic famine, stating that the infants suffering from malnutrition are being robbed of their childhoods—first by violence and then by deprivation.
The health ministry has reported a surge in patients exhibiting severe exhaustion due to starvation, with hundreds facing imminent death if conditions do not improve. Non-governmental organisations have documented the desperate state of civilians, many of whom are struggling to survive amid chaos and extreme food scarcity.
As humanitarian teams contend with dwindling supplies, many seek sustenance at great personal risk, with harrowing reports of over 70 people being fatally shot while trying to access aid. Health officials continue to express alarm over the escalating malnutrition rates, with thousands of children now classified as acutely malnourished. The mounting toll of the conflict paints a devastating picture of the humanitarian crisis enveloping Gaza, with children like Razan embodying the tragic consequences of ongoing violence and deprivation.