"Appreciative old Gazan Resident, visibly malnourished with protruding ribs, receives assistance from United Arab Emirates"
In the war-torn Gaza Strip, the humanitarian crisis continues to escalate, with the elderly population facing severe hardships. One such individual is Salim Asfour, a Gazan old man who has been affected by extreme hunger, his physical condition visibly poor with thin arms, legs, and visible ribs.
For nearly a month, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has been delivering aid to Palestinians in Gaza by air, sea, and land. This aid has been a lifeline for many, including Salim. Diaa Abu Zaid, a member of the UAE's Operation Chivalrous Knight 3, visited Salim and provided him with essential supplies, such as vegetables, fruits, flour, oil, and other necessities.
In a filmed interview, Diaa sat with Salim, feeding him by hand and showing compassion by kissing his head. Salim, whose voice, traditionally beautiful for the call to prayer, has waned due to severe hunger, expressed his gratitude to Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed and the people of the UAE.
The situation for the elderly population in Gaza is dire. Approximately 22% of Gaza's population—around 470,000 people—face starvation, with the elderly, along with children and pregnant women, among the most vulnerable groups being treated for severe malnutrition in hospitals. Malnutrition rates are very high overall, especially among children, and severe acute malnutrition cases requiring hospitalization continue to rise.
The humanitarian conditions are extremely harsh because food supplies have nearly run out, the healthcare system is devastated, and there has been a near-complete halt of humanitarian aid entering Gaza for weeks. Deaths directly related to malnutrition and starvation have been documented, including at least 235 malnutrition-related deaths since late 2023, though children comprise most of that figure.
Aid organizations continuously highlight the worsening hunger crisis and call for urgent humanitarian access and ceasefire to address the starvation risk facing Gaza's most vulnerable, including the elderly. The UAE's aid efforts have been significant, constituting 44 per cent of total international aid to Gaza to date, according to UN reports.
The ongoing conflict and restricted humanitarian access have created a famine scenario in the Gaza Strip. Images of hungry children clutching empty pots and pleading for food are spreading online, painting a stark picture of the desperation faced by many in the region. It is hoped that the UAE's continued efforts, along with international cooperation, will help alleviate the suffering of those most in need.
[1] UN OCHA, "Gaza Strip: Humanitarian Crisis Deepens," 2025. [2] World Health Organization, "Gaza Strip: Health Cluster Situation Report 1," 2025. [3] Save the Children, "Gaza Strip: Children Face Malnutrition Crisis," 2025. [4] Middle East Eye, "Gaza's Food Aid Crisis Worsens as Convoys Ambushed and People Die," 2025. [5] United Nations, "Urgent Humanitarian Access Needed for Gaza," 2025.
- Amidst the worsening news of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, the body responsible for the UN's coordination of humanitarian affairs (UN OCHA) released a report in 2025, stating that the situation is even more dire than previously thought.
- In a similar vein, the World Health Organization (WHO) published a report in 2025 highlighting the increasing number of cases of severe health problems in Gaza due to malnutrition, particularly among children.
- Save the Children, an international aid organization, issued a report in 2025, warning about the growing lifestyle and health-and-wellness challenges faced by women and children in Gaza, emphasizing the urgent need for nutrition and health interventions.
- As the situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate, with food supplies dwindling and the healthcare system in shambles, the need for science and technology innovations in agricultural production and sustainable farming practices is emerging as a pressing topic in discussions aimed at solving the region's food crisis.
- Meanwhile, games and sports, commonly regarded as an essential part of a balanced lifestyle, have taken a backseat in the daily lives of Gazan children, as they face more pressing concerns related to health and well-being.
