Death toll from “Israeli genocide war” on Gaza approaches 68,000; malnutrition deaths continue

GAZA, Oct. 16 (YPA) – The Ministry of Health in the Gaza Strip announced on Thursday that the number of casualties from the “Israeli genocide war” on the Strip has risen to 67,967 martyrs and 170,179 injuries since October 7, 2023, amidst continuous deaths resulting from severe malnutrition.

The daily statistical report revealed that Gaza hospitals received 29 martyrs and 10 new wounded over the past 24 hours, 22 bodies of the martyrs having been retrieved from several locations. Many victims remain under the rubble of destroyed homes and in the streets, with ambulance and civil defense teams unable to reach them.

In a related context, the Civil Defense confirmed that the number of missing persons in the Strip has reached 9,500, highlighting the difficulty of search and retrieval operations due to the lack of heavy equipment.

Furthermore, the Director of Health Relief, Dr. Mohammed Abu Afesh, confirmed the continuation of child fatalities due to malnutrition, emphasizing that Gaza lacks a comprehensive institutional health system to manage acute malnutrition cases, including those among children, pregnant women, and newborns.

YPA