UNICEF, the United Nations agency for children, said Tuesday, December 19 (Lindi 28), that Gaza is the most dangerous place for children in the world.
The United Nations made these statements at a time when thousands of children were killed and injured in the bombings of the Israeli army against the Hamas group in the Gaza Strip.
Unicef also said that thousands of children in Gaza are dying due to infectious diseases, lack of drinking water, food and medicine and are living in hospitals and shelters where the sanitary conditions are very bad.
UNICEF spokesman James Elder, who briefed journalists in Geneva after a two-week mission in Gaza, said that one million children are suffering from ongoing “humanitarian atrocities”.
Mr. Elder was therefore “angry” that such children were killed in Gaza’s Nasser Hospital, whose arms or legs were cut off in the bombings, and every day the bodies of children are destroyed in the explosion, hiding somewhere because of the war. done”.
He added, “I am angry that I have seen so many children who cannot fear their dead fathers, mothers and family members”.
According to the information of the Ministry of Public Health of Gaza, which is controlled by Hamas, since October 7th, when the Israeli army started bombarding Gaza in response to the attack by Hamas, 14,400 people have been killed, 70 percent of them There were women and children.
This United Nations official also said that in the last 48 hours, Al-Nasser Hospital, which is located in Khan Younis city in the south of Gaza, was attacked by missiles 2 times.
Children injured in the war are treated in this hospital and hundreds of women and children have taken refuge there to stay safe from the bombings.
Mr Elder said there was no safe place for children and families.
He added, “They are not safe in hospitals. They are not safe in shelters, and they are certainly not safe in so-called safe zones.”
This United Nations official said that the children are lying on the ground without any water, facilities, or the possibility to escape from cold and rain; Health services, food and hygiene are also not included.
Mr. Elder also said that currently there is one toilet for every 700 people in Gaza, and there are places where there are no toilets for families and tens of thousands of people have to defecate on the ground.
He added, “Without water and sanitation, these so-called peaceful areas have turned into disease areas.”
The United Nations also said that families do not bring their injured and sick children to hospitals for fear of aerial bombardment.
At the same time, the World Health Organization (WHO) says that only eight of Gaza’s 36 hospitals are somewhat active.
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said that Al-Shafa Hospital was attacked again on Monday and five people, including children, were killed.