UN Nutrition Survey Challenges Gaza Famine NarrativeĀ Ā
By The Media Line StaffĀ Ā
A new UN-backed nutrition survey found exceptionally low levels of acute malnutrition among children in Gaza, challenging allegations of famine in the Strip. Ā Ā
The survey was conducted under the coordination of the Nutrition Cluster, the UNICEF-led body that oversees Gazaās nutrition surveillance system. Researchers measured childrenās weight,Ā heightĀ and mid-upper-arm circumference before calculating the weight-for-height z-score, or WHZ, the standard indicator used by the World Health Organization and other organizations to assess acute malnutrition across populations.Ā Ā
According to the survey, acute malnutrition, as measured by WHZ, ranged from 0.2% to 0.8% across Gazaās regions.Ā Ā
The findings also compared the current figures with Gazaās prewar acute malnutrition rate of 0.8%, describing that level as relatively low and comparable to rates seen in developed countries. The survey said the figures were also below those reported in neighboring Egypt, at 2.9%, and Jordan, at 2.0%.Ā Ā
The report concluded that the measured rates of acute malnutrition were well below critical thresholds and remained exceptionally low by both regional and Western standards.Ā Ā
A year earlier, the Famine Review Committee of theĀ UN-backedĀ Integrated Food Security Phase Classification system issued a famine designation to characterize conditions in Gaza.Ā Ā
Israelās Ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon cited the latest survey on Thursday, saying itĀ demonstratedĀ that claims of famine in Gaza were collapsing.Ā Ā
āOnce again, facts prevail over fiction,ā Danon said. āUN bodies are acknowledging that the false narrative against Israel is falling apart.āĀ Ā
He added: āIsrael is not starving children. Israel is fighting Hamas terrorism, while Hamas uses civilians in Gaza as human shields. Those who rushed to accuse Israel must now be held accountable for spreading lies.āĀ
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