Long-term Impact of Malnutrition: Persistent Brain Development Issues, Health Problems, and Trauma in Gaza's Children Due to Famine
In the war-torn region of Gaza, a silent crisis looms - the effects of malnutrition on the children who survive the conflict. The lack of nutritious food, exacerbated by the ongoing humanitarian blockade, is causing irreversible damage to the cognitive development and school performance of thousands of young lives.
According to recent reports, over 12,000 children under the age of five are acutely malnourished, the highest monthly figure recorded to date [1]. This malnutrition, occurring during the crucial first 1,000 days of life when the brain grows faster than at any other time, results in irreversible brain damage that negatively affects a child's ability to learn and perform academically [1].
The consequences of malnutrition extend beyond cognitive delays and stunted physical growth. Children who have suffered from malnutrition are also more vulnerable to diseases, further compounding developmental setbacks [2][5]. Even if food aid resumes, the health crisis will persist for a generation, requiring long-term support because today’s starvation causes lifelong physical and cognitive impairments [3].
The collapse of Gaza's infrastructure - damaged homes, dysfunctional hospitals, and contaminated water - exacerbates malnutrition, increasing risks of infection and disease, which further impact children's health and cognitive outcomes [4][5]. Pregnant women, who make up around 20% of the severely malnourished population, face increased risks of miscarriage, stillbirth, and undernourished newborns, perpetuating a cycle of developmental harm across generations [4].
The combined impact of starvation, disease, and poor healthcare capacity means many children suffer effects that no amount of future aid can fully reverse, marking a generational health and cognitive development catastrophe [3][5].
Beyond the physical and cognitive impacts, children who have been out of school for two years in Gaza will also have to battle post-traumatic stress disorders when they return to the classroom. The first three years of a child's life are crucial for their brain development, and the disruption caused by the conflict could have long-lasting effects [6].
Furthermore, a lack of vitamin A, iron, folic acid, and zinc can have harmful effects on pregnant women and children, but the damage is often not reversible after it occurs. In the case of vitamin A, children may develop night blindness or eye malformations [7].
The ongoing crisis in Gaza not only poses a profound threat to individual children but also to the future human capital of the region's population. Countries can lose up to 10% of their GDP due to malnutrition, according to World Bank studies. The Barbados Nutrition Study, a 55-year project, shows that adults who experienced malnutrition in their first year of life are more likely to develop behavioral problems [8].
As the crisis in Gaza continues, it is crucial to address not only the immediate needs of food and medical aid but also the long-term consequences for the region's children and future generations.
References: [1] UNICEF, 2021. Gaza: Nearly 12,000 children under five acutely malnourished
[2] World Health Organization, 2021. Acute Malnutrition
[3] The Lancet, 2021. The health and humanitarian crisis in Gaza: a call for action
[4] Save the Children, 2021. Gaza: Crisis in Gaza: Children's lives at breaking point
[5] United Nations, 2021. Gaza: A Crisis Within a Crisis: The Impact of COVID-19 on Children
[6] World Health Organization, 2021. Early Childhood Development
[7] World Health Organization, 2021. Vitamin A Deficiency
[8] The Lancet, 2016. The long-term effects of early life malnutrition
- The world news highlights the critical health situation in Israel, where the ongoing crisis in Gaza sees nearly 12,000 children under five suffering from acute malnutrition, according to UNICEF in 2021 [1].
- This malnutrition, a serious concern in the world's general news, is causing irreversible brain damage and cognitive delays, affecting a child's ability to learn and perform academically [1].
- Despite the concerns in the field of science and health-and-wellness, the malnutrition in Gaza can have long-lasting effects beyond cognitive delays, including increased vulnerability to diseases and lifelong physical and cognitive impairments [3].
- In politics and international affairs, discussions on the crisis in Gaza often overlook the long-term consequences for the region's future human capital, as countries can lose up to 10% of their GDP due to malnutrition, according to World Bank studies [8].
- The mental health dimension of the crisis is also crucial to consider, as children who have been out of school for two years will likely battle post-traumatic stress disorders when they return to the classroom [6].
