Ramallah, May 16. — Humanitarian operations, on which the survival of all residents of the Gaza Strip depends, are today threatened by escalating attacks by Israeli armed forces, UNICEF has condemned.
In a statement, Adele Khader, Regional Director of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), criticized civilians, who are already suffering from exhaustion, malnutrition and victims of countless traumas, and are now more at risk of being killed, injured or displaced within their devastated communities. For the Middle East and North Africa region.
He stressed that the attack on the southern city of Rafah and other areas of the coastal strip exacerbated the suffering of hundreds of thousands of children, who have turned into a nightmare since October 7.
“We cannot accept their fate as collateral victims of this conflict they did not choose at all,” he warned.
Khader criticized the operations carried out by the army in Rafah, the cities of Gaza and Beit Lahia, and the Jabalia refugee camp.
He warned that since the beginning of this new escalation last week, the difficulties facing UNICEF in delivering aid to the enclave have become more severe.
The official pointed out that the main hospitals located in the north, including Kamal Adwan, Al-Awda and Indonesian, were caught in the crossfire.
Meanwhile, people on the brink of starvation are now deprived of all assistance, he said.
He called for the borders to be opened without delay and for humanitarian organizations to be able to move safely to provide the life-saving assistance on which all children in Gaza depend.
Otherwise, he stressed, the tragedy we are witnessing will be even more horrific, an outcome we must avoid.
“It is essential to silence the weapons and respect the rights of children in Gaza. Victims of unimaginable atrocities, they deserve an immediate ceasefire and a chance to live in peace,” the UNICEF Director said.
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