Gaza is the “most dangerous place in the world to be a child”, UNICEF said on Wednesday, highlighting that around 115 children were killed every day in the enclave during the 46-day war between Israel and Hamas.
Speaking at a meeting of the United Nations (UN) Security Council to address the “deeply worrying developments in the occupied Palestinian territory and the grave consequences for women and children”, the Executive Director of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said ), Catherine Russell, stated that children account for 40% of deaths in the Gaza Strip.
“In just 46 days, more than 5,300 Palestinian children will have been murdered… or more than 115 every day, every day, for weeks and weeks. Based on these figures, children are responsible for 40% of deaths in Gaza. This is unprecedented. In other words, the Gaza Strip is the most dangerous place in the world to be a child.”he said.
“It is notable that the number of deaths during the current crisis has far exceeded the total number of deaths during previous escalations. And by comparison, in the seventeen years of monitoring and reporting of serious violations, a total of 1,653 children were killed between 2005 and 2022.” Russell noted.
In addition, one million children – meaning all children within the territory – now suffer from food insecurity and face a potential “catastrophic nutritional crisis,” the UNICEF Executive Director added, stressing that the number of cases of diarrhea and respiratory infections increases. in children under five years of age.
In Gaza, the consequences of violence against children have been “catastrophic, indiscriminate and disproportionate” and, when the war ends, contamination from explosive remains “will be unprecedented, with potentially tens of thousands of remains scattered across Gaza and beyond,” in a “Deadly threat to children that could last decades,” he warned.
The disproportionate impact of this war on women was also noted during the meeting, with UN Women Executive Director Sima Bahous stating that in Gaza, two mothers are killed every hour and seven women every two hours.
Furthermore, Bahous highlighted that every day 180 women give birth without water or painkillers, without anesthesia for caesarean sections or electricity for incubators and medical treatments.
“Women in Gaza told us that they pray for peace, but if peace does not come, they pray for a quick death, while they sleep, with their children in their arms. It should shame us all that every mother, everywhere, says such a prayer”said Sima Bahous
Amid the ongoing fighting and destruction in Gaza, 5,500 pregnant women are currently expected to give birth next month.
“At a time when a new life begins, what should be a moment of joy is overshadowed by death and destruction, horror and fear. The situation is most serious for women who experience obstetric complications: approximately 15% of pregnant women,” said Natalia. Kanem, head of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).
Natalia Kanem also said she was “deeply concerned” about the more than 7,000 women who have given birth in the past 47 days because they lack access to postpartum care, water, sanitation and nutrition.
At today’s meeting, the majority of Security Council members welcomed the reaching of an agreement between Israel and Hamas on a temporary pause in fighting and the release of some hostages, while calling for the release of all prisoners.
Source: DN
