“UNICEF”: Suffering of Gaza’s Children Continues Despite Ceasefire

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) warned on Thursday that the suffering of children in the Gaza Strip continues despite the declaration of a ceasefire, pointing out that ongoing restrictions, malnutrition, and severe cold are increasing the fragility of their humanitarian situation.

UNICEF Spokesperson in Palestine, Kazem Abu Khalaf, confirmed in a statement to Anadolu Agency that children and women in Gaza still suffer from the effects of the brutal attacks the region has witnessed since October 2023.

He said, “More than 80 children have lost their lives after the ceasefire was declared, while families face harsh weather conditions with rainwater flooding tents, increasing their daily suffering.”

Abu Khalaf explained that children are the group most affected by the conflict, clarifying that official figures indicate the killing of more than 20,000 children and the injury of more than 44,000 since the beginning of the conflict.

He stressed that the impacts are not limited to the physical body but include mental health, as thousands of children have become orphans, and others have lost limbs or their ability to move, while 638,000 school-age children have lost two full years of education.

He indicated that half of Gaza’s population are children, all of whom need urgent psychosocial support, adding that the World Health Organization estimated that about 4,000 children need evacuation for urgent medical reasons.