For children in Gaza fighting cancer, every day is a battle on two fronts. Not only are they enduring the physical and emotional toll of a life-threatening illness, but they’re also facing the harsh reality of a deepening humanitarian crisis.
Even the most basic needs — like proper nutrition — are challenging amid crisis and instability. And in pediatric cancer care, nutrition isn’t just important — it’s essential. Without it, their chances of responding to treatment and surviving drop dramatically. In this blog, we’ll take a closer look at why nutrition matters so much in the fight against childhood cancer and how the crisis in Gaza is putting young lives even more at risk.
Why Nutrition Matters in Pediatric Cancer Care
Proper nutrition is essential for children undergoing cancer treatment. It supports immune function, aids in recovery, and enhances the effectiveness of therapies. Malnutrition can lead to increased treatment-related complications and reduced survival rates.
A 2024 consensus emphasizes the importance of regular nutritional assessments and individualized interventions for children with cancer. These interventions aim to maintain growth and development during treatment, stressing the importance of nutrition as an integral part of comprehensive cancer care.
The Crisis in Gaza: A Dual Threat
In Gaza, the situation is dire. The Dr. Musa and Suhaila Nasir Pediatric Cancer Department — the only pediatric oncology unit in Gaza — was severely damaged by the ongoing crisis. However, PCRF is leading efforts to rebuild the Dr. Musa and Suhaila Nasir Pediatric Cancer Department. The critical facility once provided lifesaving care to children with cancer. Its destruction has left countless young patients without access to specialized treatment, so that no child in Gaza faces cancer without care.
Simultaneously, child hunger has reached unprecedented levels. Since October 2023, over 50,000 children have required immediate medical treatment for acute malnutrition. Hospitals are overwhelmed, and the lack of access to nutritious food and clean water exacerbates the health crisis.
Barriers to Nutritional Care
Several factors hinder adequate nutritional support for pediatric cancer patients in Gaza:
- Infrastructure Damage: The ongoing crisis has destroyed healthcare facilities and disrupted supply chains.
- Resource Limitations: Shortages of medical supplies, nutritional supplements, and trained personnel impede care.
- Access Restrictions: Blockades and security concerns limit the delivery of humanitarian aid.
- Psychosocial Stress: High levels of anxiety and PTSD among children and caregivers affect nutritional intake and overall well-being.
Global Disparities in Pediatric Oncology Nutrition
Children in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) like Gaza face significant disparities in cancer care. Survival rates are markedly lower compared to high-income countries, often due to delayed diagnoses and inadequate treatment resources.
Nutrition plays a pivotal role in these disparities. In LMICs, malnutrition is both a cause and consequence of poor cancer outcomes, underscoring the need for integrated nutritional support in oncology care.
You can bring hope to children fighting cancer by supporting the Huda Al Masri Pediatric Cancer Department — the only pediatric cancer unit in the West Bank that offers free treatment. Your donation helps ensure that every child continues to receive the treatment they need — at no cost — giving them a chance to heal, grow, and dream again.
Taking Steps Toward Improvement
Addressing the nutritional needs of children with cancer in Gaza requires a multifaceted approach:
- Rebuilding Healthcare Infrastructure: Restoring and equipping pediatric oncology units to provide comprehensive care.
- Ensuring Supply Chains: Facilitating the delivery of medical supplies and nutritional supplements through coordinated humanitarian efforts.
- Training Healthcare Providers: Enhancing the capacity of local healthcare workers to assess and manage nutritional needs in pediatric oncology helps improve the overall quality of care for children with cancer.
- Community Engagement: Educating families about the importance of nutrition and providing support to overcome psychosocial barriers.
Help Gaza’s Vulnerable Children
The plight of children with cancer in Gaza is a humanitarian emergency that demands immediate attention. International organizations, governments, and individuals must collaborate to restore healthcare services, ensure the delivery of essential supplies, and support the nutritional needs of these vulnerable children.
By prioritizing nutrition in pediatric oncology, we can improve treatment outcomes and offer hope to children facing the dual challenges of cancer and crisis.
Access to essential resources, including food, clean water, and healthcare, is severely limited. Your support can make a significant difference. With your help, we can continue this vital work, ensuring that the over one million children of Gaza receive the urgent care they need and deserve. Please consider donating to help children in Gaza today.
PCRF continues to provide humanitarian aid and medical relief to children and their families — some of whom are refugees fleeing their home countries — through our Volunteer Medical Missions, Treatment Abroad program, the Huda Al Masri Pediatric Cancer Department, and Humanitarian Programs and Projects. These efforts help to ensure that children in need get the vital assistance they require. You can learn more about our work by visiting our FAQ page.
Volunteer doctors and specialists on PCRF’s Medical Advisory Board actively build up services through training and programs, and they guide PCRF in improving the quality of pediatric care in Palestine and other areas in the Middle East.
PCRF is not a political or religious organization. Our mission is to provide medical and humanitarian relief, collectively and individually, to Arab children throughout the Middle East, regardless of their nationality, political affiliation, or religious affiliation. We rely on charitable giving to provide medical treatment, surgeries, safety, shelter, and support to children and their families in Palestine and the Levant. Find out how to get involved and help make a difference in children’s lives today!