Triple Burden: Famine, Diabetes, and Oral Health as Human Rights Violations in Gaza

Abstract

Background:

In conflict zones like Gaza, children and vulnerable groups such as the elderly and the sick face a triple burden of malnutrition, diabetes (malnutrition-related diabetes mellitus), and poor oral health. These interconnected conditions impair well-being, while limited healthcare access, ongoing violence, and disrupted services exacerbate prevention and treatment challenges.

Objective:

This article investigates the combined impact of malnutrition, diabetes, and oral health deterioration among children and other vulnerable groups in the Gaza Strip, highlighting the violation of their fundamental right to health.

Methods:

This article relies on a comprehensive literature review, supported by reports from international organizations, field observations, and clinical insights from dental practice in Gaza. These combined sources were critically analyzed to examine the prevalence and interconnections of malnutrition, diabetes, and oral health deterioration among vulnerable children.

Results:

Findings reveal alarming increases in malnutrition and diabetes among children, alongside worsening oral health. The collapse of healthcare infrastructure and absence of preventive programs intensify these problems, disproportionately affecting children and vulnerable populations.

Conclusion:

These compounded health burdens constitute a clear violation of the universal human right to health. Urgent, integrated interventions focusing on prevention, treatment, and education are essential to protect children’s health. Overlooking oral health not only undermines the universality of this right but also weakens humanitarian responses. Ensuring its integration is therefore both an ethical obligation and a scientific necessity. Upholding children’s right to health in crisis settings is not only a humanitarian imperative but also crucial for building a healthier future for generations to come.