“She was malnourished, and I couldn’t buy milk for her. But I found Save the Children, and they helped me.”
Those were the words of Zainab*, mother of 11-month-old Sahar, who suffered from malnutrition amid horrific conditions in Gaza.
John, nearly every single child in Gaza is once again at risk of famine.
11-month-old Sahar* plays with a toy as she recovers from malnutrition at a Save the Children Health Care Clinic.
Zainab was four months pregnant when the war broke out. She couldn’t get adequate medical assistance during childbirth and struggled to buy food and clothes for Sahar. Zainab was malnourished herself and, as a result, couldn’t breastfeed her daughter. She’d lost everything to the war, and every day was a fight for survival.
Families around the world are faced with the realities of war, conflict, hunger and disaster. But with the support of our generous donor community, we’re doing everything we can to help keep children healthy, safe and learning amid escalating violence.
When Sahar needed it most, she received specialized treatment for malnutrition that included ready-to-use therapeutic food – a life-saving, nutrient-dense peanut paste.
A Save the Children health worker plays with Sahar before checking on her progress.
Tragically, ongoing violence and restrictions on humanitarian staff and supplies have left the entire Gaza Strip at critical risk of famine. These same conditions have made it extremely difficult to get children the life-saving treatment they need.
At Save the Children’s primary health care center in Deir Al-Balah, we were only able to screen 574 children for acute malnutrition during the month of April, compared to more than 10,500 children in January during the brief pause in fighting.
