Tue May 20 09:38:45 UTC 2025: **Urgent Warning: UN Says 14,000 Babies at Imminent Risk of Death in Gaza as Aid Trickles In**

**Gaza City** – The United Nations has issued a dire warning, stating that as many as 14,000 babies in Gaza could die within the next 48 hours if significantly more humanitarian aid is not immediately delivered. The alert follows an 11-week blockade by Israel, recently eased after mounting international pressure.

According to UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher, only a meager five trucks of aid, including vital baby food, managed to enter Gaza on Monday – a woefully inadequate amount given the scale of the crisis. He stated that this limited aid has yet to reach the communities most in need.

“There are 14,000 babies that will die in the next 48 hours unless we can reach them,” Fletcher told BBC Radio 4. “We run all sorts of risks trying to get that baby food through to those mothers who cannot feed their children right now because they’re malnourished.”

The UN’s alarming prediction comes on the heels of strong condemnation from key Israeli allies. Leaders from Britain, France, and Canada issued a joint statement on Monday denouncing Israel’s restrictions on humanitarian aid and warning of potential joint action if the situation does not improve. The statement specifically criticized the blocking of aid and controversial comments from Israeli ministers regarding the potential displacement of Palestinians.

Fletcher welcomed the “robust words” as a positive step, noting the UN’s hope to get an additional 100 trucks loaded with baby food and nutrition into Gaza. “I want to save as many as these 14,000 babies as we can in the next 48 hours,” he pleaded.

When questioned about the basis of the 14,000 figure, Fletcher explained that UN teams on the ground, including those in medical centers and schools, are actively assessing the overwhelming needs. He acknowledged the dangers faced by these teams, noting casualties among their ranks, but affirmed their continued efforts to provide aid.

Under increasing international pressure, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu eased the blockade on Sunday night, citing diplomatic reasons to prevent a starvation crisis in Gaza. However, he emphasized that aid would only be allowed to a “minimum level.”

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