The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) announced on Saturday that more than 50,000 children in the Gaza Strip urgently require treatment for acute malnutrition.

According to the agency's statement, the ongoing restrictions on humanitarian access have exacerbated the hunger crisis in Gaza. "The people in Gaza continue to face desperate levels of hunger," the statement noted.

The agency highlighted the severity of the situation, stating, "UNRWA teams work tirelessly to reach families with aid, but the situation is catastrophic."

Since October of last year, nearly 37,300 Palestinians, predominantly women and children, have lost their lives due to Israeli military actions in Gaza, with around 85,200 others injured, as reported by local health authorities.

Eight months into the Israeli offensive, large areas of Gaza have been devastated, suffering under a blockade that severely restricts access to food, clean water, and medical supplies.

The International Court of Justice has accused Israel of genocide and recently issued a ruling demanding an immediate cessation of operations in Rafah, where over a million Palestinians had sought refuge from the conflict prior to the city's invasion on May 6.