Malnutrition in Gaza prevents blood donations, hospitals plea for help

Severe malnutrition, exacerbated by 'Israel's' ongoing blockade and starvation campaign in Gaza, is preventing many Palestinians from donating blood, despite urgent and escalating needs amid the ongoing war on the besieged territory.

Since 'Israel' imposed a total siege on Gaza in October 2023, cutting off food, water, fuel, and humanitarian aid, residents have been thrust into a severe humanitarian crisis.

The population has been surviving on minimal food aid, primarily from charity-run soup kitchens, most of which have ceased operation. Fresh produce, meat, and dietary supplements are almost entirely unavailable, contributing to widespread anemia and physical weakness across Gaza.

While some vital aid briefly trickled into Gaza during a fractured ceasefire, 'Israel' reinstated a full blockade on all aid supplies on 2 March, with officials asserting they will maintain it until all captives are released.

International aid organizations and rights groups have condemned the blockade, yet its impact remains devastating—particularly for blood donation drives that are unable to meet the soaring demand for blood units.

Each day, hundreds of Palestinians are wounded in relentless 'Israeli' airstrikes and military assaults, increasing the need for blood donations.

Gaza's Health Ministry has repeatedly called for blood donations to address the growing crisis. However, the physical toll of malnutrition and illness on the population, combined with the low turnout at donation centers, has forced authorities to request emergency blood supplies from Jordan and the occupied West Bank.

With hospitals overwhelmed and in desperate need of resources, the situation remains critical, and the plea for international support grows more urgent by the day.