'A thumb wider than her ankle': Gaza’s 5-year-old Zainab dies weighing less than at birth 

Gaza humanitarian crisis (Image: AFP)

Wrapped in a sheet lay the emaciated body of five-year-old Zainab Abu Halib, as her grieving mother pressed a final kiss to her forehead.

Gaza’s humanitarian crisis continues to deepen, with malnutrition-related deaths now surpassing 120. Among the victims is Esraa Abu Halib, another five-year-old girl who tragically died weighing less than she did at birth.

Zainab, who weighed over 3 kilograms (6.6 pounds) at birth, had wasted away to under 2 kilograms by the time of her death - a heartbreaking symbol of the escalating hunger and deprivation in the region.

The baby was brought to the pediatric ward at Nasser Hospital on Friday, but she had already passed away.

In the morgue, a worker gently removed her Mickey Mouse-printed shirt, lifting it over her small, hollowed eyes. He rolled up the cuffs of her pants, revealing thin, knobby knees. His thumb appeared wider than her fragile ankle, and the outline of her ribcage was clearly visible - a stark reminder of the severe malnutrition she had suffered.

The special formula 

Zainab was among 85 children in Gaza who have died from malnutrition-related causes during the ongoing war, according to the latest figures shared by the territory’s Health Ministry. In total, 127 people - including adults, most in recent weeks - have lost their lives due to hunger-related conditions.

“She needed a special baby formula that simply wasn’t available in Gaza,” said her father, Ahmed Abu Halib, as he prepared for her funeral in the courtyard of Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis.

Dr. Ahmed al-Farah, head of the hospital’s pediatric department, explained that Zainab required a formula designed for infants allergic to cow’s milk. Without it, she suffered from persistent diarrhea and vomiting. As her immune system weakened, she developed a severe bacterial infection and sepsis. Eventually, her body became too frail to even swallow.

Zainab’s family, like thousands of others in Gaza, is displaced and living in a tent. Her mother, who is also malnourished, shared that she was only able to breastfeed Zainab for six weeks before turning to formula - a lifeline that never came.

(With agency inputs)