The United Nations has warned that the last remaining stocks of malnutrition prevention supplements have run out in the Israeli-blockaded Gaza Strip and that treatment supplies will soon follow unless immediate humanitarian access is granted.

“There are no more malnutrition prevention supplements left in stock in Gaza,” said Stephanie Tremblay, Associate Spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General, in a press briefing Tuesday. “While some malnutrition treatment stocks remain, these will also be depleted soon unless the crossings reopen for the entry of cargo.”

UN agencies and humanitarian partners report that with every passing day, conditions worsen for families already devastated by months of war, displacement, and total blockade. Community kitchens, once vital lifelines, are rapidly shutting down — over 60 of the nearly 180 kitchens supported by the UN have closed in recent days due to lack of supplies.

“Adults are prioritizing their children over themselves when they do manage to find some sustenance,” Tremblay noted, emphasizing the severity of food scarcity.

The hunger crisis comes as repeated Israeli strikes on civilian infrastructure continue to devastate Gaza. On Monday, an UNRWA-run school in the Al Bureij refugee camp in Deir al Balah was struck twice, killing dozens, including women and children. Another school in Gaza City sheltering displaced persons was also hit, with at least 20 reported dead. These incidents have compounded the already dire situation for civilians trying to access food and clean water.

According to UN assessments, the crisis is also affecting water and hygiene. “Ninety per cent of families they assessed were facing water insecurity,” said Tremblay. “Over three quarters of families reported a worsening water situation, amid a decrease in both water quantity and water collection points.”

Meanwhile, vast quantities of aid — including food and nutritional supplies — remain blocked at Gaza’s borders or stored in warehouses awaiting permission to enter. “More than 240,000 metric tons of supplies are ready to be dispatched from warehouses outside Gaza,” Tremblay said. “That’s in addition to the large quantities of supplies already waiting at the crossings themselves to enter the Strip.”

However, humanitarian operations are being repeatedly obstructed. On the day of the briefing, Israeli authorities denied six of eight UN movement requests, including those aimed at retrieving vital supplies from militarized areas. “OCHA also stresses the need for Israeli authorities to facilitate humanitarian movements inside Gaza,” Tremblay added.

“We and our partners are committed to staying and delivering to help alleviate the suffering of the people exhausted by many months of fighting,” said Tremblay. “But we must be allowed to act before it’s too late.”