A population-based nutrition survey in accessible areas of the Gaza Strip found relatively low acute malnutrition among children under five, but concerning rates of chronic malnutrition, maternal malnutrition and poor dietary quality, UNICEF said in a press release dated 24 August 2026.

Stunting affected 12.2 per cent of children under five and overweight 4.0 per cent. Among children aged 6–23 months, 73.0 per cent had eaten unhealthy foods the previous day and only 22.4 per cent received a minimum acceptable diet. Some 37.1 per cent of under-fives had diarrhoea in the two weeks before the survey. The survey, led by the State of Palestine Nutrition Cluster, collected data between 31 May and 15 June 2026, measuring 1,335 children across 147 clusters. About 17 per cent of Gaza's population, some 358,000 people, was excluded from the sampling frame because of access and security constraints.

UNICEF said admissions for acute malnutrition treatment peaked at nearly 17,000 children in August 2025 and fell to under 3,000 by March 2026, after aid resumed following the October 2025 ceasefire. Regional Director Edouard Beigbeder described the improvements as fragile and dependent on sustained humanitarian access, funding and functioning commercial markets. UNICEF called for unimpeded access, continued funding for nutrition, health and water services, and open commercial markets.