In pictures: Many in Gaza face malnutrition as blockade enters third month

A shortage of food and supplies has driven the territory toward starvation, according to aid agencies.

A child shows signs of malnutrition — Ahmed El-Sheikh Eid, seven, who shows signs of malnutrition, poses for a photo at his family tent at a camp for displaced Palestinians in Mawasi Khan Younis, Gaza Strip (Abdel Kareem Hana/AP)

Malnutrition and hunger are becoming increasingly prevalent in the Gaza Strip as Israel’s total blockade enters its third month.

A shortage of food and supplies has driven the territory toward starvation, according to aid agencies.

Wedad Abdelaal, right, and her nine-month-old son Khaled who suffers from malnutrition and her children Ahmed, seven and Maria, four, both showing signs of malnutrition also, pose for a photo in their tent at a camp for displaced Palestinians (Abdel Kareem Hana/AP)

Supplies to treat and prevent malnutrition are depleted and quickly running out as documented cases of malnutrition rise.

The price of what little food is still available in the market is unaffordable for most in Gaza, where the United Nations says more than 80% of the population relies on aid.

Rahma al-Qadi takes care for her seven-month-old daughter Sama, who was born with Down syndrome and suffers from malnutrition (Abdel Kareem Hana/AP)

Children of the Abdelaal family share a plate of beans (Abdel Kareem Hana/AP)

Israel’s longest blockade on Gaza, which began March 2, has sparked a growing international outcry.

But that has failed to convince Israel to open the borders.

Mona al-Raqab cares for her son Osama, five. She says his cystic fibrosis has worsened since the start of the war due to the lack of meat, fish and enzyme tablets to help him digest food (Abdel Kareem Hana/AP)

Many groups have accused Israel of using starvation as a weapon of war. Israel says the blockade is necessary, claiming that Hamas is diverting aid for its own purposes (Abdel Kareem Hana/AP)

More groups accuse Israel of using starvation as a weapon of war.

Israel Palestinians — Palestinians receive donated food at a distribution centre in Beit Lahia, northern Gaza (Jehad Alshrafi/AP)

A Palestinian child carries a pot of soup received from a community kitchen (Abdel Kareem Hana/AP)

Israel, for its part, insists the blockade is necessary to pressure Hamas to release the hostages it still holds.

Of the 59 hostages still in Gaza, 24 are believed to be still alive.

Wedad Abdelaal and her husband Ammar , feed their nine-month-old son Khaled, in their tent at a camp for displaced Palestinians in Mawasi (Abdel Kareem Hana/AP)

Israeli authorities did not immediately respond when asked to comment on accusations that Israel was using starvation as a weapon of war, but have previously said Gaza had enough aid after a surge in distribution during a two-month ceasefire, and accuse Hamas of diverting aid for its purposes.

Humanitarian workers deny there is significant diversion, saying the UN monitors distribution strictly.