Children In Gaza Are Starving. Here's How Starvation Can Affect A Child's Health

[David__77]

…

Bombs are not the only factor responsible for the death of many. Due to cutoff of food supplies, many Palestinians are now dying of starvation, malnutrition and dehydration. At least 20 people have died of malnutrition and dehydration in the north’s Kamal Adwan and Shifa hospitals alone, most of whom are children according to reports from The Associated Press.

Malnutrition results when the body does not receive essential nutrients that are necessary to function properly. Starvation, on the other hand, results when the body does not receive enough calories to sustain the essential functions of the body. If left untreated, both can ultimately lead to severe illness, organ failure and ultimately death.

One of the most obvious ramifications of decreased caloric and nutrient intake in children is stunted growth. In the starvation state, the body prioritizes survival over growth, leading starving and malnourished children to be low in body weight and shorter in height.

Starvation and malnutrition also weaken the immune system, making children much more susceptible to infections such as pneumonia, infections of the gut and malaria to name a few. Malnourished kids do not get an adequate amount of vitamins in their body, which are essential in combating infections throughout the body. As an example, vitamin C stimulates the production of white blood cells, which are essential for fighting off infections in the body. Vitamin C is just one of many vitamins that boost one’s immune function.

…

https://www.forbes.com/sites/omerawan/2024/03/24/children-in-gaza-are-starving-heres-how-starvation-can-affect-a-childs-health/amp/

[Think. Again.]

1. K&R, Thank You for posting this.

[womanofthehills]

2. Many newborns are dying as starving mothers are not producing milk

And often mothers are living on basically bread. No formula is available for newborns - plus the water is contaminated.

One video had a circle of little kids dipping bread into a liquid. When asked what the liquid was - the kids said thyme water. So are most of the people of Palestine living mostly on bread alone?

[limbicnuminousity]

3. Consequences.

From the article:

"Beyond just physical ailments, starvation can seriously affect a child’s cognitive and intellectual growth. It is well documented that starvation deprives the brain of nutrients it needs to function properly, which can lead to decreased attention, memory loss, suboptimal problem solving, irritability, depression, mood swings and anxiety. Children suffering from starvation can thus perform suboptimal in school, which can affect their long-term career ambitions and economic opportunity in the future. Furthermore, the long-term ramifications of malnutrition can result in a multitude of mental health disorders such as anxiety and depression, many of which are linked to substance abuse, suicide and shortened life spans."

Put a kid in that kind of situation and they learn a few lessons. One, they learn that the authorities (family, friends, neighboring adults, leaders, government) are incapable of keeping them safe. Two, they learn that the world at large doesn't really give a damn whether they live or die. Three (eventually), they learn that their existence is a nuisance because it impedes the development of beach-front property. Some may emerge from that experience and develop into reasonably healthy human beings. Some won't. The consequences of that suffering won't be felt until this generation of children reaches maturity.

[Butterflylady]

9. And then they become what Israel is trying to combat.

It's a never ending circle that the Middle East has endured for hundreds of years.

[Beastly Boy]

4. Here is how I know that concern for children's health is not the reason you posted

What Other Countries Have High Rates of Malnutrition?
India 233.90
Pakistan 42.80
Nigeria 34
DR Congo 33.80
Ethiopia 26.40
Bangladesh 18.90
Indonesia 16.20
Tanzania 14.90
Madagascar 14.80
Kenya 14.70

There are plenty of other countries that have exceptionally high rates of malnutrition as well. For example, the Central African Republic is estimated to have a male nutrition rate of approximately 48 percent. This means that close to half of everyone in the country suffers from some degree of malnutrition. Haiti, a small island in the Caribbean, is also believed to suffer from a tremendous rate of malnutrition. It has been estimated that approximately 47 percent of people in Haiti suffer from malnutrition. Finally, Yemen is also known to have a very high rate of malnutrition. Approximately 45 percent of all people in Yemen suffer from malnutrition, which has contributed to significant problems in this country.

https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/malnutrition-rate-by-country

How many of the top countries with the highest child malnutrition have you ever posted about?

Now, read the responses to your post. THIS is the reason for your post. Not children's health.

...How many of the top countries with the highest child malnutrition have the respondents to your post ever posted about?

[enid602]

5. 80% of those facing famine worldwide are in Gaza

https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2024/01/over-one-hundred-days-war-israel-destroying-gazas-food-system-and

Per UN.

GENEVA (16 January 2024) – Gazans now make up 80 per cent of all people facing famine or catastrophic hunger worldwide, marking an unparalleled humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip amid Israel’s continued bombardment and siege, according to UN human rights experts.

Doubt if the situation has improved much since January 10.

I think the 233.9% rate of famine you cite in India might be a typo. At first glance, it appears that the famines you cite are likely all the product of poverty or bad growing conditions, perhaps in part caused by global warming. The situation in Gaza is unique in that many sources are calling it a man-made famine.

[BuddhaGirl]

7. Thank you

The post you were replying to was pathetic. Total deflection - but I guess we know the reason.

[Beastly Boy]

10. It appears that UN's right hand has no clue what its left hand is doing (no surprise there).

Or else they are unfamiliar with the fundamental basics of math.

On January 16, the "UN experts" you are quoting said:

Gazans now make up 80 per cent of all people facing famine or catastrophic hunger worldwide, marking an unparalleled humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip amid Israel’s continued bombardment and siege, according to UN human rights experts.

https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2024/01/over-one-hundred-days-war-israel-destroying-gazas-food-system-and

And, according to them, 1.13 million Gazans are facing famine.

A month later, WPO, one of the UN branches, says:

An estimated 42.3 million people across 45 countries will be in Emergency or worse levels of acute food insecurity in 2024. Without urgent life-saving action, these populations will be at risk of falling into catastrophe or famine conditions.

https://www.wfp.org/publications/wfp-global-operational-response-plan-update-10-february-2024

So 1.3 million is 80% of 42.3 million?

UN is not good for much, but you can be sure to get a ridiculous joke from them every now and then.

[enid602]

23. famine vs food insecurity

The first article states: ‘ Gazans now make up 80 per cent of all people facing famine or catastrophic hunger worldwide’ . . . The second article states ‘ An estimated 42.3 million people across 45 countries will be in Emergency or worse levels of acute food insecurity in 2024. There could be a difference between ‘famine or catastrophic hunger’ and ‘emergency or worse levels of food insecurity.’ We have food insecurity in the US, and our government allows us to provide aid. We have no famine here.

[Beastly Boy]

33. Emergency or worse on the scale of acute food insecurity.

According to IPC, it is the level of a famine.

https://news.un.org/en/story/2024/03/1147661

[enid602]

38. IPC classifications

Emergency is IPC phase 4, and catastrophe/famine is phase 5. Per news.un.org. Number of people in catastrophe/famine worldwide is 1.3M.

[EX500rider]

26. Sure, if you don't count the 18 million in the Sudan...

Nearly 18 million people across Sudan are facing acute hunger, and more than five million are experiencing emergency levels of hunger in areas worst affected by the conflict


https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/wfp-receiving-reports-people-dying-starvation-sudan-2024-02-02/#:~:text=Nearly%2018%20million%20people%20across,worst%20affected%20by%20the%20conflict.

[enid602]

28. Sudan

The usual charities will request aid, and we will respond. I hope to God their government has the grace not to block aid.

[EX500rider]

30. The issue there is the same as in Gaza, active warzones are hard to deliver aid in

[enid602]

32. Trend

Hopefully, blocking food aid for political reasons is not the new trend. At least the West has more tools at their disposal in dealing with Sudan.

[BannonsLiver]

6. +1. Those causes aren't the cause du jour.

They’re not trendy.

[Eko]

8. Exactly how do you propose they do that?

Do they need to post every place with children starving at this time to be able to post about it happening in Gaza?

[Beastly Boy]

11. I propose they put 1% of the effort they put into bashing Israel to bring attention to starving children worldwide.

Hell, I would settle for 0.0001%!

Otherwise they look suspiciously like fucking hypocrites, don't you think?

[Eko]

13. And how do you know they are not doing that?

[Beastly Boy]

15. Ah, the old prove the negative bs.

Quit being funny.

[Eko]

17. Sure, proving the negative is BS.

But what is even more BS is telling someone they dont care about something because you have not seen them saying enough on that subject.
When
1. You dont know them.
2. You are basing this off one internet forum.
That's some BS on a high level buddy.
Using your logic you don't care about terrorism. I have never seen you post about all the other terrorist's that are out there in the wide world, you just post against Palestinian terrorists. Ergo you are not against terrorists just Palestinians. That's racist.

[Beastly Boy]

20. Well, you can easily prove me wrong.

Link me to a single post in which the OP expressed any concern about the starving children in India, or Pakistan, or Nigeria, or DR Congo, or Ethiopia, or Bangladesh, or Indonesia, or Tanzania, or Madagascar or Kenya, or anywhere else in the world outside of Palestine, on this internet forum or any other.

Take your time. Don't rush with another demand to prove the negative. I can wait.

[Eko]

21. I have never seen you post about all the other terrorist's that are out there in the wide world,

You just post against Palestinian terrorists. Ergo you are not against terrorists just Palestinians using your logic. That's racist.

[Beastly Boy]

24. That is using YOUR logic, not mine.

Yeah, like Hamas, or Islamic Jihad, and ISIS, and Al Quaeda are all international terrorist organizations, active all over the world.

When I post about Hamas in Denmark, I am posting about terrorists outside of Palestine.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100218527622

Your turn now. Actually it has been your turn first, but you are skirting it. Either put up, or this conversation is over.

[Eko]

29. You pointed to a post about Hamas again.

Do you not care about all the other people out there being terrorized by non Palestinians or do you only care about the Palestinian ones?
Just using your logic again.

[Beastly Boy]

34. Keep changing the ghoal post.

Your turn to put up.

Otherwise, have pleasant dreams. There is only so much time I can afford to waste on nonsense.

[Eko]

35. The goal post is that you only post about Palestinian terrorists.

I dont see where you have done other. I'm not sure what you want me to put up, feel free to remind me.

[Eko]

22. Here is my proof that I indeed care about starving children.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100218806031
Thanks,
Eko.

[Beastly Boy]

25. Are you the OP?

Next!

[Eko]

31. That was just so you cant accuse me of the same thing.

[Nanjeanne]

36. You are fighting a losing battle. Don't you know if someone doesn't post an OP on DU that it means they have

no concern for anything else going on in the world? It appears that for some who have lots of time to check # of posts of people they disagree with it follows the person they are checking out only exists on DU also.

But thanks for trying to apply logic! It’s been fun reading!!

[Eko]

37. It has been fun and thank you!

[BuddhaGirl]

16. Quit the deflection

Israel deserves the criticism in this case.

[Beastly Boy]

27. What deflection are you talking about?

Do you not think that the OP is not about starving children anywhere other than gaza?

When you pretend that my post is anything other than a comment on the peculiarly selective outrage about starving children in the OP, you are the one who is deflecting.

[BuddhaGirl]

40. The OP is about starving children in Gaza

YOU are deflecting from the topic of OP by complaining about why Israel is, in your opinion, being singled out when there are starving children in other countries.

Sad that I had to point it out to you so clearly Ah well.

[elocs]

12. Starvation. Isn't that Israel's point. It may as well be because their moral high ground is gone forever. nt

[malaise]

14. It is clear that many don't care

That is all

[Beastly Boy]

18. Couldn't agree with you more.

Many don't care about the starving children in India, or Pakistan, or Nigeria, or DR Congo, or Ethiopia, or Bangladesh, or Indonesia, or Tanzania, or Madagascar or Kenya.

Makes me wonder how so many people can be so selective about starving children. Any idea?

[WarGamer]

19. You know what ELSE starvation does??

It creates generational hatred.

Some 20 year old man will be thinking about watching his sister die of starvation when he straps on that IED vest.

[Mossfern]

39. Solution

Hamas surrenders and the Israeli hostages are returned - dead or alive.
This hunger is on Hamas, not Israel. They started the war, why should the country they attacked provide food to their enemy that seeks to eradicate them.

Can anyone give any instance where a country at war supplies their enemy?

[David__77]

41. There have been many instances of allowing non-combatants to leave a war zone.

Israel does not permit this.

The implication of your statement is that the babies of Gaza are the “enemy.”

[Mossfern]

42. False equvalency

If Hamas (combatants) would wear uniforms and not embed themselves with the civilian population, things would be different. The innocent babies need adults in order to leave, Israel cannot trust that those adults are not Hamas.

Again, it's quite simple. Hamas surrenders, hostages are returned and the healing can begin. As long as terrorist groups vow eradication of Israel (and all Jews) there will be suffering on both sides.
I fully support a two state solution with a truce between them.