WHO warns mild diseases turning 'fatal' with widespread malnutrition in famine-declared Gaza

By Beyza Binnur Donmez

GENEVA (AA) - The World Health Organization chief warned Friday that even mild illnesses are becoming deadly in Gaza after a food insecurity watchdog formally declared famine in the Gaza Governorate.

"This man-made, widespread malnutrition means that even common and usually mild diseases like diarrhoea are becoming fatal, especially for children," Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on US social media company X.

Tedros called for swift action for the millions of people in the enclave, saying: "Gaza must be urgently supplied with food and medicines. Aid blockages must end!"

His remarks came after the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) confirmed famine in the Gaza Governorate, one of the five regions of the Gaza Strip, where Israel has killed more than 62,000 Palestinians since October 2023.

The global hunger monitor also projected that famine will spread to Deir al-Balah and Khan Younis within weeks.