at risk of starvation, and is urgently calling for an end to the siege to allow food and medicine to reach the civilian population. "We’re seeing malnutrition rates rise rapidly since the tightened blockade on March 2," said Juliette Touma, UNRWA’s Director of Communications, speaking from Amman via video link. According to UNRWA, since January 2024, over 240,000 children under age five have been screened in its clinics. Prior to the conflict, severe malnutrition was virtually unheard of in Gaza. A nurse reportedly told UN staff: “We used to only read about these cases in textbooks and see them in documentaries.” UNICEF also reported that more than 5,800 children were diagnosed with malnutrition in July alone, including over 1,000 suffering from severe, acute malnutrition — a figure that has risen for the fourth consecutive month. Limited Aid and Rising Tensions Although Israel lifted an 11-week blockade in May, allowing limited UN aid into Gaza, UNRWA remains banned from delivering humanitarian supplies. Fuel, medicines, and hygiene products are nearly exhausted, according to UN officials. Israel’s COGAT agency claims it has allowed 67,000 trucks carrying 1.5 million tonnes of food, including 2,000 tons of baby food, into Gaza. Meanwhile, Israel and the U.S. have accused Hamas of stealing UN aid — a claim Hamas denies. In response, they have created the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, operated by private U.S. firms, which the UN refuses to work with. Global Appeal for Ceasefire On Monday, the UK and 24 other Western nations, including France, Canada, Australia, and Italy, issued a joint appeal for an immediate, unconditional, and permanent ceasefire, declaring the humanitarian crisis in Gaza has reached “new depths.”