UNICEF says northern Gaza is seeing a “horrific degree of kid deaths” because the violent month-long Israeli siege continues.
UNICEF says greater than 50 kids have been killed within the Jabalia refugee camp in Gaza prior to now 48 hours, and the charity Save the Youngsters mentioned the excessive quantity exhibits “the depth of this battle and this warfare towards kids.” “.
“Youngsters are beneath fixed bombardment, in fixed concern,” Rachel Cummings, Save the Youngsters Worldwide’s humanitarian director and staff chief in Gaza, informed Al Jazeera on Sunday.
Greater than 16,700 kids have been killed within the Israeli assault on Gaza since October final 12 months, in line with Palestinian officers, greater than a 3rd of the whole loss of life toll of 43,341 confirmed by well being authorities.
Talking from Deir el-Balah in central Gaza, Cummings mentioned the loss of life toll amongst kids doesn’t symbolize the estimated 20,000 who’re lacking or left alone on this warfare.
Israel has killed greater than 1,000 individuals throughout its violent month-long siege of northern Gaza, throughout which it blocked the entry of meals and medical support and paralyzed well being services.
“Individuals are consistently bombarded by airstrikes and naturally we all know that meals and water are usually not sufficient. Meals and water convoys are being denied entry to the north… It is completely catastrophic,” Cummings mentioned.
“We’re watching the apocalypse unfold in northern Gaza.”
Dr. Hussam Abu Safia of Kamal Adwan Hospital, the one functioning facility in northern Gaza, mentioned the hospital was “overwhelmed with victims.”
He urged the worldwide group and well being organizations to push for an “pressing humanitarian step” to ship gasoline and medical provides and specialised medical personnel to assist with the victims.
“Stunning degree of kid deaths”
In its assertion on Saturday, the UN company mentioned the kids had been killed in an Israeli strike that leveled two residential buildings housing a whole lot of individuals.
“Along with the horrible degree of kid deaths in northern Gaza from different assaults, these most up-to-date occasions mix to put in writing one other darkish chapter in one of many darkest durations of this horrible warfare,” in line with an announcement from the Director UNICEF Govt, Catherine Russell.
He additionally mentioned {that a} UNICEF employees member engaged on a polio vaccination marketing campaign within the north of the enclave was attacked by a quadcopter whereas driving by way of Jabalia, which has suffered the worst assaults from Israel.
“The assaults on Jabalia, the vaccination clinic and the UNICEF employees member are yet one more instance of the intense penalties of indiscriminate assaults towards civilians within the Gaza Strip. “The complete Palestinian inhabitants in northern Gaza, particularly kids, are at imminent threat of dying from illness, starvation and continued bombing,” the assertion mentioned.
On Sunday, the World Well being Group (WHO) mentioned Israeli forces launched a stun grenade at a polio vaccination heart in Gaza Metropolis, wounding a minimum of 4 kids, regardless of agreeing to a humanitarian pause. for a long-delayed inoculation marketing campaign.
The Israeli military additionally killed 13 Palestinians in an airstrike focusing on two densely populated areas within the north amid the siege, which has sparked a humanitarian disaster. UN human rights chief Volker Turk mentioned the “darkest second” of the battle is unfolding in northern Gaza.
Israel launched the army offensive, what many referred to as “a warfare of revenge” towards the Palestinians, within the wake of a Hamas-led assault on Israel on October 7, 2023. Greater than 1,100 individuals, largely civilians, had been killed, and Some 240 individuals had been taken prisoner within the assault.
