The head of UNICEF says Gaza in the “catastrophic” state after months of war

The levels of malnutrition inside the Gaza band have reached the famine levels while the aid begins to flow, the deputy executive director of UNICEF, Ted Chaiban, told Fox News.

“The situation is catastrophic on the ground in Gaza.” Chaiban said. “After 22 months of war, two months of a blockade by Israel, people are in a horrible state.”

Recently published data show that a quarter of the Gaza population, nearly 500,000 people, endure famine conditions.

Bernie Sanders to force the Senate’s vote on the blocking of weapons for sale in Israel

A Palestinian collects food from a point of distribution of humanitarian aid in Beit Lahia, Northern Gaza, Sunday July 20, 2025. (Ahmad Salem / Bloomberg via Getty Images)

UNICEF works with the World Food Program and the organization of food and agriculture to distribute food and nutritional supplements to Palestinian civilians, but Chaiban warns that commercial access to Gaza is necessary to resolve the hunger crisis.

“We will not be able to meet the needs of two million people,” added Chaiban.

Currently, UNICEF has three key requests from the government and the Israeli soldiers who must approve the entire entrance to the aid to Gaza.

Starmer says that the United Kingdom recognizes the Palestinian state if Israel has not accepted a ceasefire, Hamas must “disarm”

The Palestinians walk near the rubble of the buildings during the Eid Al-Adha holidays, in Gaza City, on June 6, 2025. (Reuters / Mahmoud Issa)

UNICEF requests that their efforts be supplemented by commercial traffic, that problems with double use of things such as water pipes are resolved and that more partners are authorized to operate inside the enclave.

Humanitarian efforts have increased in recent days, hundreds of trucks being authorized to distribute aid inside Gaza, associated with Jordan aerial pallets and water. Currently, approximately 100 trucks per day lead help to central kitchens and warehouses. The United Nations aims to have 400 to 500 trucks per day by working to respond to immediate humanitarian concerns.

“What is necessary is to rely on the opportunity and the opening of the humanitarian break,” said CHABAN. “Send this aid via all channels and routes so that it can reach the population.”

The coordination of Israel of government activities in the territories (COGAT) published this photo which would be pallets of humanitarian aid awaiting distribution in Gaza. (Cogat)

The UNICEF MP came back from a visit to Gaza this week. During his stay, he saw emaciated civilians walking, empty markets and young children suffering from malnutrition. He thought that the end of the war is the only lasting solution to combat the widening of the crisis.

Click here to obtain the Fox News app

“More importantly, it is to reach a ceasefire and the release of hostages which should not be held in the Gaza Strip, so that there is a relief on a more sustainable basis to the inhabitants of Gaza who have crossed a horrible situation,” concluded Chaiban.