GAZA, Aug. 11 (Xinhua) -- "People are dying not only from hunger and disease, but also in the desperate search for food," the WHO director-general told a press briefing in Geneva on Aug. 7, noting that more than 1,600 people have been killed and nearly 12,000 injured while trying to collect food from distribution sites since May 27.

"Malnutrition is widespread and hunger-related deaths are rising," he said, adding that nearly 12,000 children under five years were identified as suffering from acute malnutrition in July, hitting the highest ever monthly figure.