In the Gaza Strip, “hell on earth” for its million children, Unicef denounces
Gaza is a real “hell on earth” for the million children who live there, while around forty of them have died every day for a year, the United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef) stated on Friday.
More than a year after the start of the war in Gaza, “Children continue to suffer indescribable daily suffering”declared Unicef spokesperson James Elder during a press conference in Geneva, Agence France-Presse reports. “Gaza is the true embodiment of hell on earth for its millions of children. “The situation is getting worse by the day as we see the terrible impact of airstrikes and military operations.”noticed.
“If this level of horror doesn’t awaken our humanity and move us to act, what will? » asked.
Since the deadly Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, which sparked war in the Gaza Strip, it is estimated “cautious” They estimate the number of children killed in Gaza at more than 14,100, according to Elder. This means that“Approximately between 35 and 40 girls and boys have been killed every day in Gaza since October 7.”
As for the survivors, they have nowhere to go to be safe while “Deprivation affects the entire Gaza Strip”. “Where could children and their families go? They are not safe in schools and shelters. They are not safe in hospitals. “And they are certainly not safe in the overcrowded camps.”noted Mr. Elder.
The UNICEF spokesperson described what life is like for a child in Gaza through the case of a seven-year-old girl, Qamar, injured in the foot during an attack on the Jabaliya camp.
The only hospital they could admit her to (a maternity ward) was under siege for twenty days. Since they couldn’t transfer her and the hospital didn’t have the resources to treat the foot infection, doctors amputated her leg. She, her mother and her sister, also injured, were forced to walk south. “Now they live in a destroyed tent, surrounded by stagnant water”said Mr. Elder.
