The Director-General of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, has warned that more than 100,000 children and 37,000 pregnant and breastfeeding women in the Gaza Strip are projected to suffer acute malnutrition through April next year, amid worsening humanitarian conditions.
His warning followed the release of a new Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) report by UN agencies, which found that at least 1.6 million people in Gaza are facing high levels of acute food insecurity through mid-April 2026. According to the report, the situation could deteriorate rapidly, particularly if hostilities resume or humanitarian assistance is halted.
Tedros cautioned that under worst-case scenarios, including renewed conflict and further restrictions on aid, the entire Gaza Strip could face a real risk of famine by mid-April 2026. In a post on X, he stressed that any progress made in combating famine remains “extremely fragile,” as Gaza’s population continues to endure massive infrastructure destruction, collapsed livelihoods, devastated local food production, and severe constraints on humanitarian operations.
He also highlighted the strain on Gaza’s health system, noting that only around 50% of health facilities are partially functional, while facing critical shortages of essential supplies and equipment. Many medical items, he said, are subject to complex entry procedures and restrictions, often classified as potentially dual-use. To address the crisis, Tedros said the WHO is calling for the urgent and expedited approval and entry of essential medical supplies, equipment, and prefabricated hospital structures to scale up life-saving services and expand access to care.
