UN corrects information that 14,000 babies would die in Gaza in 48 hours per hunger

A statement made by a representative of the United Nations (UN) About the humanitarian crisis in Gaza It generated confusion and was later corrected. The number of 14 thousand babies supposedly on the edge of death by malnutrition within 48 hours does not correspond to the actual data of the reported report. The statement was made by Tom Fletcher, UN’s director of humanitarian aid, during an interview with the BBC on Monday (20). He said that “14,000 babies will die in the next 48 hours unless we can reach them,” referring to the urgency in sending humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip.

However, when questioned, Fletcher did not present concrete evidence to justify this number. Later, the BBC itself sought clarifications with the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), headed by Fletcher. The agency clarified that the figure of 14,100 cases of severe acute malnutrition among children from 6 to 59 months refers to an estimate for the period between April 2025 and March 2026-that is, over 12 months, not 48 hours.

The data was originally extracted from a report from the Integrated Food Safety Phases (IPC) classification, which makes projections based on food risk analyzes. The document points out that if the current humanitarian situation persists, about 14,000 young children may suffer from severe malnutrition next year. Even after the correction, Fletcher’s initial statement was widely echoed in the international press and quoted by British parliamentarians during a debate. The BBC later admitted the error and made a live retraction.

Amid international pressure, Israel again authorized the entry of trucks with humanitarian aid in Gaza. On Tuesday (21), 93 vehicles transporting food, flour, children’s formulas, medicines and medical equipment entered the territory. However, the Israeli authorities claim that the Hamas Group has prevented the distribution of supplies, controlling the entry and destination of the aid. According to the Israeli government, the block is necessary to prevent Hamas from intercepting and reselling products.

The conflict between Israel and Hamas has lasted more than 590 days since October 7, 2023. There are still 58 hostages in the possession of the extremist group, only 21 would be alive, according to Israeli estimates. The situation in Gaza remains critical, with alerts about the risk of widespread hunger. International organizations, including the European Union and the United Kingdom, call for the expansion and speeding up of the sending of humanitarian aid.