The head of the UN Palestinian refugee agency, Philippe Lazzarini, has warned that children in Gaza are at severe risk of death from malnutrition if emergency aid is not immediately provided amid Israel’s Gaza City military operation. He said malnutrition among children has increased six-fold since March and described the situation as a “manufactured famine,” with food being used as a weapon of war, Reuters reported.

Lazzarini cautioned that many children may not survive further displacement due to the population’s weakened condition. While Israel’s aid coordination agency, COGAT, says it works to ensure humanitarian supplies reach Gaza, concerns over access and adequacy of aid persist.