43% of Pregnant and Breastfeeding Women in Gaza Malnourished, Save the Children Reports
43% of Pregnant and Breastfeeding Women in Gaza Malnourished, Save the Children Reports
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Nearly half of pregnant and breastfeeding women seeking care at Save the Children clinics in Gaza in July were found to be malnourished, the organisation said in a report on August 6, 2025. The assessment, based on screenings of 747 women between July 1 and 17, showed 43% were malnourished—almost triple the proportion recorded in March when Israel reinstated a total siege on Gaza.
The organisation warned that malnutrition is increasingly threatening the health of mothers and newborns. Food, water, and fuel are severely limited, and some mothers have resorted to feeding infants unsafe substitutes such as water mixed with ground chickpeas or tahini. Global health experts stress that breastfeeding provides essential nutrition and antibodies for infants, but mothers in Gaza are struggling due to hunger, dehydration, stress, and repeated displacement.
According to the UN Population Fund, Gaza has around 55,000 pregnant women. The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification estimates more than 70,000 children under five and 17,000 pregnant or breastfeeding women are facing acute malnutrition, warning that a “worst-case scenario of famine” is unfolding.
Save the Children staff report that some mothers, fearing they may not survive, are requesting infant formula to ensure their babies can be fed if orphaned. The organisation urged Israel to allow unrestricted entry of aid, including formula and breastfeeding support, in compliance with international law.
The Gaza Ministry of Health said 180 people have died of malnutrition-related causes since October 2023, including 93 children—25 of them in July. Save the Children, which has operated in Gaza for decades, continues to provide primary healthcare, nutrition support, water, and psychosocial services for mothers and children, and is prepared to expand its operations if aid access improves.
