29 deaths in Gaza linked to starvation, health minister says

At least 29 children and elderly individuals have recently died from starvation-related causes in the Gaza Strip, according to Palestinian Health Minister’s report on Thursday, May 22, 2025..

Majed Abu Ramadan, issued a dire warning that thousands more face a similar fate unless the flow of humanitarian aid to the besieged territory increases significantly.

Despite some aid beginning to enter Gaza, the minister emphasized that the current supplies are grossly inadequate.

Ramadan referenced comments made by the United Nations’ aid chief in an interview with the BBC.

In the interview, it was suggested that as many as 14,000 babies could die due to the severe lack of food.

The minister stated that this projection was not only “very realistic” but possibly even an underestimation of the true scale of the crisis.

Israel has recently allowed limited deliveries of humanitarian assistance into Gaza.

This follows growing international outrage over its 11-week total blockade of the region.

This blockade has fueled fears of a large-scale famine, especially among vulnerable groups such as children and the elderly.

However, officials from the United Nations have stressed that the aid currently being permitted is “nowhere near enough” to address the catastrophic needs of Gaza’s population.

On Thursday, approximately 90 aid trucks entered Gaza.

However, Abu Ramadan noted that the majority of the contents consisted mainly of flour designated for bakeries.

The World Food Programme (WFP) confirmed that a small number of bakeries in Gaza had resumed operations after receiving these supplies overnight.

The agency welcomed the development as a “critical first step” but warned that it was far from sufficient.

“More essential food is needed to push back the risk of famine.

“Bread alone is not enough for people to survive,” WFP posted on X.

Younis al-Khatib, president of the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS), stated that despite the arrival of aid, many Palestinians had not yet received any supplies.

He explained that the bulk of the aid trucks remained at the Karem Abu Salem crossing (referred to as Kerem Shalom by Israelis) in southern Gaza, without reaching the broader population.

Meanwhile, the Israeli military continues to carry out widespread attacks across the enclave.

Medical sources informed Al Jazeera that at least 51 Palestinians were killed since early Thursday.

According to the Gaza Health Ministry, more than 53,655 Palestinians have been killed.

Also, over 121,000 injured since the onset of Israel’s military offensive in October 2023.

In addition, Israeli military spokesperson Avichay Adraee announced new evacuation orders for Palestinians in Jabalia and Beit Lahiya in northern Gaza.

He declared that military operations in those areas would be “significantly expanded.”

Al Jazeera’s correspondent Tareq Abu Azzoum conveyed that while Palestinians appreciated the arrival of aid, it was described as merely a “drop in the ocean” relative to the scale of the humanitarian crisis.

He noted that 500 aid trucks per day are needed to address the current food emergency adequately.

Despite the grim situation, some Gaza residents still saw the limited aid as a hopeful sign.

Ahmed Abed al-Daym told Al Jazeera that although the delivery of aid trucks was encouraging, the conditions remained dire.

“Our homes are empty, there is no bread, and our children are going hungry,” he said.

“In many households, bread has completely disappeared.

“What people urgently need is a steady and sufficient flow of flour and other essentials.

“Unfortunately, the limited aid that has entered so far falls far short of meeting our needs.”

Another resident, Reem Zidiah, highlighted the emotional toll of the crisis, saying that due to widespread starvation, no one in Gaza feels secure.

“All of us here in Gaza, we don’t think about tomorrow because we don’t know what will happen, whether we’re going to live or die,” she shared with Al Jazeera.

Humanitarian organization Action Against Hunger also issued an urgent warning from their teams in southern Gaza.

It stated that there was less than a week’s supply of food left to prevent acute malnutrition in children.

Natalia Anguera, the group’s head of Middle East operations, acknowledged that some bakeries had resumed work thanks to flour deliveries.

However, she cautioned that specialized nutritional supplies for children under five were nearly depleted, putting the youngest at even greater risk.

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