Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: United Nations – United Nations –
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December 9, 2025 Peace and security
Mothers forced to starve for long periods in Gaza are giving birth to premature or low-birth-weight babies who die in intensive care units or desperately fight for their lives, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) warned on Tuesday.
Speaking via video link from the war-torn enclave, UNICEF communications manager Tess Ingram said at least 165 children had died "painful and yet preventable deaths" related to malnutrition.
Another major problem is acute hunger among pregnant and lactating women and the “devastating domino effect” of lack of healthy nutrition for thousands of newborns.
"I've seen babies in Gaza hospitals weighing less than one kilogram," Ingram said. She explained that low-birth-weight babies die at a rate approximately 20 times higher than normal-weight babies.
A UNICEF representative noted that before the war, an average of 250 babies per month were born in Gaza weighing less than 2.5 kilograms—about five percent of all newborns. In the first half of 2025, this figure rose to 10 percent.
"Low birth weight is typically caused by poor maternal nutrition, increased stress, and limited prenatal care," Ingram said. "In Gaza, we see a combination of all three, and the response to this situation is too slow and insufficient."
The realities of war
The UNICEF representative added that in October alone, 8,300 pregnant and breastfeeding women were hospitalized in Gaza for treatment of acute malnutrition.
"This trend suggests that we will continue to see low birth weight babies being born in Gaza for many months to come," she said.
The UN responded to the situation by supplying the enclave with incubators, ventilators, and other vital equipment destroyed during the conflict.
UNICEF has provided tens of thousands of pregnant and breastfeeding women with high-calorie food supplements to prevent malnutrition. The UN Children's Fund also screens children for acute malnutrition and includes them in treatment programs.
Obstacles to aid delivery
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said there were "ongoing obstacles" to delivering aid to the most vulnerable people, including security concerns, customs delays and denials of entry at crossing points.
Opening the Rafah border crossing in southern Gaza could increase the flow of humanitarian aid and reduce the number of children suffering from malnutrition, Ingram noted.
"We need all forms of aid to flow freely, especially nutritious foods, through commercial channels," she added, emphasizing that local markets need to be stocked so that prices can drop and foods such as fruits and vegetables, meat, and dairy products become affordable to families.
A UNICEF representative emphasized that the two-month ceasefire "was meant to bring safety to families, not further losses." She noted that more than 70 children have been killed since the ceasefire on October 10.
"Entire generations, including those born during the current ceasefire, will be forever traumatized by what they experienced," Ingram said.
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