A new study by a United Nations agency reveals that more than 54,600 children under the age of five in Gaza are acutely malnourished, with over 12,800 suffering from severe malnutrition. The research, published in The Lancet, screened nearly 220,000 children and found that by early August, around 16 percent of young children in Gaza were experiencing acute wasting, a life-threatening condition. Experts emphasize that these findings provide some of the clearest evidence yet of widespread child hunger in the region, with many children at increased risk of death without immediate intervention. The study also highlights that malnutrition rates improved when aid was allowed in, but worsened during periods of restricted access, underscoring the urgent need for sustained humanitarian assistance.