Palestine: The Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza Impacts in Childhood
Children in Gaza Strip, Dec 2024 Photo: @SaraFaridio
December 3, 2024 Hour: 3:43 pm
The situation in Gaza has reached alarming levels, with a devastating impact on the civilian population, especially among the most vulnerable: children.
Related:
Israeli Airstrike Kills 5 Lebanese in the Village of Haris
Experts have denounced that the indiscriminate attacks by Israel are not only disproportionate but also constitute a deliberate attack against civilians, exacerbating an already critical humanitarian crisis.
The spokesperson for the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has pointed out that many children in Gaza suffer from severe illnesses such as traumatic brain injuries, amputations, burns, cancer, and severe malnutrition.
Despite the existing capacity to evacuate these minors to safe locations, fewer than one child per day has managed to leave the enclave. “Trapped in the clutches of an indifferent bureaucracy, the pain of children is brutally aggravated,” the spokesperson stated, emphasizing the urgency of an effective humanitarian response.
Before October 7, 2023, it was already reported that one in five Gazan families had at least one person with a disability, and nearly half of these cases were children. Since the onset of the conflict, minors have been the primary victims. Israeli attacks have resulted in at least 44,502 deaths and over a thousand injuries, with approximately 11,000 missing—most of them women and children. In June, UNICEF described the Strip as “a cemetery and a slaughterhouse for children.”
The devastation is not limited to human lives; nearly 90% of Gaza’s civil infrastructure has been destroyed due to Israeli bombings. This includes hospitals and medical centers that have been direct targets of attacks by the Israeli military, further complicating access to vital medical care for those who survive this crisis.
The international community faces an urgent call to action in response to this humanitarian tragedy. Protecting children’s rights and ensuring access to humanitarian assistance must be non-negotiable priorities. Immediate measures must be taken to guarantee the safety and well-being of all civilians in Gaza and to put an end to hostilities that perpetuate this cycle of violence and suffering.
Autor: OSG
Fuente: EFE-teleSUR
