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UN PhotoWHO / GAZA MALNUTRITION
STORY: WHO / GAZA
TRT: 07:24
SOURCE: WHO
RESTRICTIONS: PLEASE CREDIT WHO ON SCREEN
LANGUAGE: ARABIC / NATS
DATELINE: 04 MAY 2025, GAZA CITY, GAZA
1. Close up, Aya looking at her phone screen showing a video of her son hugging and kissing her daughter Jenan
2. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Aya Iskafi, Mother of Jenan:
“She was suffering from severe malnutrition. For three months I was accompanying my daughter to Al-Rantisi hospital non-stop, and she was suffering from chronic diarrhoea at the time. When I was taking her to the hospital, I was hoping to find out what’s wrong, then they told me that she had severe malnutrition after doing tests and procedures. They also told me that other needed tests, and treatment are not available in Gaza. They also told me about a Milk that could stop the diarrhoea but it’s not available in Gaza, I searched in pharmacies hoping to find it, other hospitals, even the ministry of health, but it was not available at all in Gaza.”
6. Various shots, Jenan being held by her mother Aya, feeding her, and holding her as she coughs
7. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Aya Iskafi, Mother of Jenan:
“I was dying on the inside when I was looking at her, even though she was still alive but she suffered twenty deaths a day; the number of needles that she had to bear with, it was hard, she used to spend three to four hours in the nursing room while they were trying to find an artery to inject, when they needed a blood sample or when they needed to install a catheter, her life was extremely hard. I appealed to the whole world for her to get outside for treatment, or for the border crossings to open, or at the very least for the needed milk to be allowed in, nothing worked, and she passed away today.”
8. Various shots, Aya looking at her phone screen showing a various photos of her daughter Jenan.
9. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Aya Iskafi, Mother of Jenan:
“I don't know. I don't know how to describe it. I feel like I'm dreaming. I woke up. I found her next to me dead. I really feel like I'm dreaming. I mean, I don't understand these feelings.”
10. Med shot, Jenan crying on a hospital bed
11. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Aya Iskafi, Mother of Jenan:
“I also have a son. I also have a son. Not only her, but I also have a two-and-a-half-year-old son who suffers from the same thing. He suffers from malnutrition because we don't have flour.”
12. Med shot, Jenan lying on a hospital bed, malnourished
13. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Aya Iskafi, Mother of Jenan:
“Because there are many children in Gaza suffering from malnutrition. And there are patients suffering from cancer. From heart disease. From malnutrition. From everything. Because the crossings are closed.”
14. Med shot, Aya buttoning Jenan’s clothing.
15. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Aya Iskafi, Mother of Jenan:
“I hope that not every day, a mother experiences what I experienced. To see her daughter dying 20 times a day, and she's standing by. And the worst thing is that the doctors are standing by, unable to do anything for him. Unable to help, unable to. And she was screaming inside a hundred thousand times to the world. Save my daughter. Save my daughter.”
16. Various shots, inside the children’s hospital showing hospital workers, parents and Dr Ragheb Agha examining a baby
17. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Dr Ragheb Agha, Director, Gastroenterology and Endoscopy Department Al-Rantisi Hospital, Gaza City:
“Unfortunately, many cases come to Al-Rantisi Hospital due to malnutrition. The case that passed away here today, Jinan; she was admitted due to chronic diarrhoea, which was caused by malabsorption of lactose. Jenan needed a lactose-free milk, but unfortunately, it’s not available in Gaza strip nor private companies or the private sector. A referral was issued for the child so she can travel outside for treatment and get the required special milk, and also to preform necessary tests, but unfortunately, due to the closure of the border crossings, the child was unable to leave the Strip.”
18. Various shots, Dr Ragheb Agha examining a young child.
19. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Dr Ragheb Agha, Director, Gastroenterology and Endoscopy Department Al-Rantisi Hospital, Gaza City:
“Of course, we are now receiving dozens of malnutrition cases, and that is due to the closure of the border crossings and of course the unavailability of food in the markets, and if it is available it’s offered for very high prices, that mothers can’t buy nor afford. Therefore, that leads to malnutrition cases in children. Unfortunately, many children come to Rantisi Hospital due to immune deficiency resulting from malnutrition, and sometimes it leads to death, in the case of Jinan Al-Iskafi.”
20. Wide shot, hospital corridor with health workers and people walking
Aid has not entered Gaza in 65 days. Hunger is rising and so is the risk of malnutrition. Malnutrition increases the risk of children dying from illnesses like diarrhoea, pneumonia and measles, especially in a setting where they lack access to life-saving health services.
Jenan was taken to the hospital, where a full medical assessment confirmed she had severe acute malnutrition (SAM) with complications.
SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Aya Iskafi, Mother of Jenan:
“She was suffering from severe malnutrition. For three months I was accompanying my daughter to Al-Rantisi hospital non-stop, and she was suffering from chronic diarrhoea at the time. When I was taking her to the hospital, I was hoping to find out what’s wrong, then they told me that she had severe malnutrition after doing tests and procedures. They also told me that other needed tests, and treatment are not available in Gaza. They also told me about a Milk that could stop the diarrhoea but it’s not available in Gaza, I searched in pharmacies hoping to find it, other hospitals, even the ministry of health, but it was not available at all in Gaza.”
SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Aya Iskafi, Mother of Jenan:
“I was dying on the inside when I was looking at her, even though she was still alive but she suffered twenty deaths a day; the number of needles that she had to bear with, it was hard, she used to spend three to four hours in the nursing room while they were trying to find an artery to inject, when they needed a blood sample or when they needed to install a catheter, her life was extremely hard. I appealed to the whole world for her to get outside for treatment, or for the border crossings to open, or at the very least for the needed milk to be allowed in, nothing worked, and she passed away today.”
Jenan had also experienced a serious episode of diarrhoea, likely linked to environmental and hygiene conditions, which further deteriorated her health and contributed to her death. She was lactose intolerant, which limited treatment options.
SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Aya Iskafi, Mother of Jenan:
“I don't know. I don't know how to describe it. I feel like I'm dreaming. I woke up. I found her next to me dead. I really feel like I'm dreaming. I mean, I don't understand these feelings.”
SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Aya Iskafi, Mother of Jenan:
“I also have a son. I also have a son. Not only her, but I also have a two-and-a-half-year-old son who suffers from the same thing. He suffers from malnutrition because we don't have flour.”
The doctor prescribed a therapeutic milk formula suitable for her condition, but it was not available at the facility. As a result, Jenan did not receive the treatment required for her survival. This outcome would likely have been preventable in non-conflict settings.
SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Aya Iskafi, Mother of Jenan:
“Because there are many children in Gaza suffering from malnutrition. And there are patients suffering from cancer. From heart disease. From malnutrition. From everything. Because the crossings are closed.”
SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Aya Iskafi, Mother of Jenan:
“I hope that not every day, a mother experiences what I experienced. To see her daughter dying 20 times a day, and she's standing by. And the worst thing is that the doctors are standing by, unable to do anything for him. Unable to help, unable to. And she was screaming inside a hundred thousand times to the world. Save my daughter. Save my daughter.”
While a healthy body can more easily fight off diseases, a wasted and weakened body will struggle. Hunger weakens the body’s defences and opens the door to disease.
SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Dr Ragheb Agha, Director, Gastroenterology and Endoscopy Department Al-Rantisi Hospital, Gaza City:
“Unfortunately, many cases come to Al-Rantisi Hospital due to malnutrition. The case that passed away here today, Jinan; she was admitted due to chronic diarrhoea, which was caused by malabsorption of lactose. Jenan needed a lactose-free milk, but unfortunately, it’s not available in Gaza strip nor private companies or the private sector. A referral was issued for the child so she can travel outside for treatment and get the required special milk, and also to preform necessary tests, but unfortunately, due to the closure of the border crossings, the child was unable to leave the Strip.”
SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Dr Ragheb Agha, Director, Gastroenterology and Endoscopy Department Al-Rantisi Hospital, Gaza City:
“Of course, we are now receiving dozens of malnutrition cases, and that is due to the closure of the border crossings and of course the unavailability of food in the markets, and if it is available it’s offered for very high prices, that mothers can’t buy nor afford. Therefore, that leads to malnutrition cases in children. Unfortunately, many children come to Rantisi Hospital due to immune deficiency resulting from malnutrition, and sometimes it leads to death, in the case of Jinan Al-Iskafi.”
Even if the child survives, wasting can have life-long impacts as it stunts growth and impairs cognitive development.
