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UNAIR NEWS – The worsening malnutrition crisis among children in Gaza—triggered by the protracted armed conflict—has drawn concern from ������ () public health scholar Septa Indra Puspikawati, SKM, MPH. A faculty member of the Department of Nutrition at UNAIR’s Faculty of Health, Medicine, and Natural Sciences (FIKKIA), Puspikawati stressed that this humanitarian emergency also represents a global failure to uphold children’s basic rights.

“When a child in Gaza goes hungry, the world fails not only to provide nourishment but to uphold its humanity,” she said emphatically.

Puspikawati explained that the consequences of severe malnutrition go far beyond short-term risks. Children face life-threatening conditions such as infections, chronic fatigue, and stunted growth. Over time, these issues can evolve into permanent complications—ranging from brain damage and developmental delays to lifelong stunting that diminishes overall quality of life.

“We are witnessing the emergence of a generation stripped of its future—not due to their own fault, but because the world has failed to protect them,” she continued.

Nutrition as casualty of war

Puspikawati went on to explain that the prolonged conflict has dismantled essential systems that support child health in Gaza. “Many mothers are unable to breastfeed due to psychological trauma and malnutrition. And when food is available, it often lacks the nutrients children need for healthy development,” she said.

This situation, she argued, reflects the world’s collective failure to meet several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)—notably SDG 2: Zero Hunger, with Gaza serving as a stark illustration of continued global food insecurity; SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being, as children’s health deteriorates under extreme conditions; and SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions, because without peace and justice, a safe environment for children to thrive is impossible.

As a country that upholds humanitarian values and supports the SDGs, Indonesia must not remain silent, Puspikawati urged. She called on all members of society to take meaningful action—from sharing accurate information and donating through verified organizations to encouraging universities and communities to lead in humanitarian advocacy and solidarity.

“Neutrality in the face of humanitarian crises is simply complicity. Nutrition is not just about food—it’s about justice, the right to life, and human dignity,” she explained.

Puspikawati concluded by underscoring that as children in Gaza lose everything, the world must not turn away. “History will remember whether we remained silent—or stood with them,” she said.

Author: Dheva Yudistira Maulana

Editor : Khefti Al mawalia