The Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip, which has been ongoing for several weeks, has raised serious concerns about the welfare of children in the region and the escalating humanitarian crisis. Human rights organizations such as UNICEF and Save the Children have expressed their apprehensions about the rising number of child casualties and the dire conditions faced by the civilian population.
Child Casualties on the Rise
In a press briefing held in Geneva on October 31, UNICEF spokesman James Elder highlighted the alarming increase in child casualties as a result of the conflict. He stated that their worst fears regarding the number of children killed have become a grim reality, with more than 3,450 children reportedly killed. This number continues to surge daily, painting a distressing picture of the crisis. Elder described Gaza as a “graveyard for thousands of children,” emphasizing the devastating impact of the ongoing conflict on the youngest members of the population.
Save the Children’s Concerns
The London-based human rights organization, Save the Children, also voiced profound concerns about the situation in Gaza. They revealed that the number of children reported killed in Gaza within just three weeks has already exceeded the annual number of children killed in conflict zones worldwide since 2019. The organization lamented the devastating consequences of the violence on children, who have been torn from their families and subjected to unimaginable suffering.
Save the Children stressed the urgency of a ceasefire to ensure the safety of children. They implored the international community to prioritize the well-being of children over political considerations, emphasizing that every day spent in debate leads to more children being killed and injured. The call for a ceasefire is especially critical when children are seeking refuge in schools and hospitals.
Water Crisis Worsening
One of the most pressing concerns facing Gaza now is the deteriorating water crisis. According to Elder, a colleague in Gaza reported that there is no safe, fresh water available to drink. Instead, the only water accessible to children and the population is salty, resulting in hundreds falling ill and becoming dehydrated.
Hospitals Struggling
Save the Children cited a UN report, warning that the risk of children dying from injuries has reached unprecedented levels. This is due to the fact that a third of hospitals in Gaza are no longer operational because of electricity cuts and a blockade imposed by the Government of Israel, which has blocked the entry of essential goods, including fuel and medicine. Hospitals have been compelled to perform surgeries without the use of narcotics, leading to children undergoing amputations without pain relief.
A Bleak Outlook
James Elder concluded his remarks by stating that without a ceasefire, access to water, medicine, and the release of abducted children, the situation is heading toward even greater horrors for innocent children. Both UNICEF and Save the Children continue to closely monitor the evolving crisis in Gaza as Israel’s relentless bombardment persists. The current situation in the Gaza Strip is considered one of the most severe humanitarian crises witnessed by human rights organizations.
