UNICEF fears thousands of Gaza’s children will die for not having food, water and shelter

United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) declared Gaza by far the most dangerous place in the world for a child, fearing the death toll of youngsters will surpass from those killed by Iraeli bombardment, if a ceasefire is not reached.

UNICEF said children are more susceptible to dehydration, diarrhea, disease and malnutrition, which is a threat to their survival, adding officials have recorded almost 20 times the monthly average of reported cases of diarrhea among children under the age of 5, in addition to increases of cases of scabies, lice, chicken pox, skin rashes and more than 160,000 cases of acute respiratory infection.

The medics have noted Gazans having weight loss, anaemia, dehydration and weak that they were more susceptible to chest infections and skin conditions. Babies and children were particularly at risk, and their growth would be affected.

“Access to sufficient amounts of clean water is a matter of life and death, and children in Gaza have barely a drop to drink,” said UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell.

James Elder, (UNICEF spokesman) while talking to journalists in Geneva asked where do children and their families go? adding, they are not safe in hospitals. They are not safe in shelters and they are certainly not safe in the so-called safe zones as these are frequently hit by Israeli aerial strikes.

UN World Health Organization (WHO), spokesperson Dr. Margaret Harris added that WHO staff in Gaza spoke of not even being able to walk in the emergency wards “for fear of stepping on people” lying on the floor “in severe pain” and asking for food and water, adding the situation “unconscionable” and said that it is “beyond belief that the world is allowing this to continue”.

Since Israel began its bombardment and siege of Gaza; according to Gaza’s Ministry of Health, more than 19,400 Palestinians have been killed, about 70% of whom are women and children, over 52,000 Palestinians have been injured and their access to life-saving care is extremely limited.