The war-torn Gaza Strip is facing a severe shortage of infant formula due to severe Israeli restrictions. Thousands of newborns and infants in a besieged coastal enclave, already struggling with chronic malnutrition, health instability, and overcrowded medical facilities, will be severely impacted, according to medical officials.
The crisis has intensified under strict Israeli restrictions on border crossings, limited entry of essential goods, and the high birth rate, leaving families desperate and hospitals overwhelmed.
For many mothers in Gaza , infant formula is the only option. Premature births, displacement, and living in overcrowded shelters or tents make breastfeeding nearly impossible.
Nour Al-Arabi, mother of a 35-day-old premature baby from Khan Younis City in the southern Gaza Strip, told The New Arab , "We are suffering from a formula shortage."
Nour gave birth after just eight months of pregnancy, and her premature son spent 18 days in the neonatal intensive care unit.
Unable to breastfeed him, she had to rely on formula. When the formula became available, it was in very limited quantities, forcing her to switch between different types repeatedly.
The constant changes took a toll on the infant's health; he suffered from gas, bloating, and severe colic, struggled to sleep at night, and had gained only 300 grams since birth.
"Before, there was food, drink, and nutrition. I didn't need to give him the formula. Today, the situation is tragic. I'm trying my best, but with every change in formula, he is at risk of complications," she recalled.
"We are just asking for milk for the children; they are innocent. We want to give them strength and help them grow because they are exhausted," she added.
Zainab Obeid, mother of another newborn, described similar struggles. Her infant suffers from oxygen deficiency and respiratory problems, requiring intensive care.
"My son is a month old, and I've had to change his formula three or four times. Each change causes health problems, infections, and viruses," she told TNA .
"I'm constantly taking him to the hospital. My mental state is shattered. I have five other children at home who also need care, and I cannot keep up," she said.
Mothers describe a constant feeling of helplessness. Hospitals in Gaza are overflowing with malnourished infants, facing shortages of medicine and medical supplies.
The inability to transfer patients outside the Strip has already led to preventable deaths among children who lack proper care, according to medical officials. Hospitals overwhelmed, catastrophe ahead Medical professionals warn that the shortage could become a full-scale humanitarian catastrophe if urgent action is not taken.
At Nasser Hospital in southern Gaza , a medical official described the situation as dire, with infant formula supplies running dangerously low.
Ahmed Al-Farra, director of the children's hospital at Nasser Hospital, told TNA that both types of formula—types one and two—are in short supply.
"The problem isn't just quantity; the types available change constantly. One type lasts no more than two weeks before it runs out and is replaced by another, which negatively affects children's health," he said.
Al-Farra explained that frequent formula changes lead to diarrhoea, bloating, constipation, allergies, skin rashes, constant crying, and general malaise. Many formula stocks are close to their expiration dates, further jeopardising child health.
"Many mothers rely on formula due to premature births and extended incubator stays, which affect breastfeeding," he said.
"Malnutrition during pregnancy also reduces mothers' capacity to provide adequate nutrition. The shortage forces some to introduce solid foods too early, leading to allergies, weight loss, diarrhoea, and chronic digestive issues," he added.
He also highlighted the psychological toll on mothers. "The inability to provide proper nutrition fuels stress and anxiety. Mothers need a stable supply. Children cannot thrive if the formula runs out every two weeks." Restrictions and birth rates Official figures indicate that Gaza's birth rate remains high. The Ministry of Interior registered 2,890 newborns in March 2026 alone, intensifying pressure on formula markets.
Tens of thousands of infants rely on formula, so that any disruption can have severe health consequences.
Israeli restrictions on Gaza's borders further worsen the crisis. According to the Government Media Office, only 38,358 of 94,800 trucks carrying aid, commercial goods, and fuel recently entered the Strip—a compliance rate of just 40 per cent.
Fuel trucks were permitted entry at a mere 14 per cent, while the Rafah crossing remains partially closed. Essential infrastructure materials and medical supplies are still being denied, complicating hospitals' ability to meet basic needs.
For families, this translates into daily uncertainty. Mothers worry that a lack of formula could force them to resort to unsuitable alternatives, jeopardising infants' health.
Hospitals are forced to ration supplies, while doctors struggle to maintain the health of critically vulnerable newborns.
The infant formula crisis in Gaza reflects a wider humanitarian emergency. Restricted supplies, high birth rates, malnutrition among mothers, and overcrowded hospitals converge to create a scenario of extreme vulnerability for infants. While mothers wait for relief, the cries of infants and the anxiety of parents underscore the urgency of the situation.
Al-Farra warned that without immediate intervention, the shortage could escalate into a widespread health catastrophe, increasing malnutrition and disease among the most vulnerable members of society.
The international community and humanitarian organisations have repeatedly called for stable and sufficient deliveries of infant formula, emphasising that even a small delay could have irreversible consequences.
"Children require a consistent and continuous supply of formula to avoid serious health risks. Any delay will exacerbate malnutrition and endanger lives. Immediate action is needed to secure infant formula before this crisis turns into an uncontrollable tragedy," al-Farra concluded.