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How One UN Leader's Mistaken Timeline Caused Confusion About Gaza Children's Starvation Risk

The United Nations and BBC corrected a claim that 14,000 infants in Gaza would die within 48 hours due to malnutrition.
The initial statement stemmed from a misunderstanding of a report predicting 14,100 cases of severe malnutrition over a one-year period affecting young children between half a year and five years of age.
This incorrect claim was widely cited in UK Parliament and media, prompting UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy to suspend trade talks with Israel and condemn Gaza military actions.
On May 20, 2025, Israeli authorities permitted the entry of 93 trucks loaded with humanitarian supplies such as baby food, medical equipment, and pharmaceuticals into Gaza to help alleviate the nutritional crisis.
The correction clarifies urgent aid is crucial to prevent malnutrition deaths over the year, though immediate 48-hour mass fatalities were not supported by the original report.

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PBS NewsHour

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How one UN leader's mistaken timeline caused confusion about Gaza children's starvation risk

Gaza children face dire starvation risk, but a UN leader got the timeline wrong when he said 14,000 babies would die in “the next 48 hours.” The report he referenced projected such severe child malnutrition in the region over 11 months.

20 hours ago·Washington, United States

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PolitiFact

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Gaza starvation risk dire, but UN official’s number was off

22 hours ago·Saint Petersburg, United States

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Jewish Press

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UWI

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UN, BBC Walk Back Gaza Infant Death Toll Claim

A top official had falsely claimed that 14,000 infants faced death within 48 hours.

1 day ago

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Firstpost News

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Gaza: UN retracts 14,000 baby death claim; correct figure but wrong time frame

The United Nations has retracted a claim made by one of its officials that 14,000 Gazan babies would die if they don't receive the aid within 48 hours. The body said that while the figure is correct, the time frame is different

2 days ago·Mumbai, India

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Svenska Dagbladet

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The Missen: The UN Is Forced to Back Down From Death Threats

The news had a thunderous impact on the world. “14,000 babies will die within 48 hours in Gaza.” But now experts are backing down from the figure that no one could verify.

2 days ago·Stockholm, Sweden

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voz.us

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The UN and BBC Retract the Number of Dead Children in Gaza

The United Nations and BBC corrected Wednesday's dramatic claim that 14,000 babies in the Gaza Strip faced death within 48 hours, clarifying that the figure actually refers to children at risk of severe malnutrition over the course of a year.Read more]]>

2 days ago

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