Gaza: an intolerable situation for children according to UNICEF
In this statement dated December 26, 2024, Edouard Beigbeder, UNICEF regional director for the Middle East and North Africa, draws up an alarming observation of the situation of children in Gaza. He points out that over the last three days, at least eleven children have lost their lives in attacks, while four newborns and infants have died of hypothermia, illustrating the extreme precariousness of living conditions.
The regional director highlights the seriousness of the winter situation, with families forced to survive without adequate shelter, exposed to the cold, malnutrition and lack of medical care. Children, particularly newborns and the most fragile, are in immediate danger from winter temperatures in makeshift shelters.
Regarding humanitarian aid, he highlights the major obstacles to its delivery, with only 65 aid trucks on average per day in November, a dramatically insufficient figure. The situation is particularly critical in northern Gaza, which has been almost inaccessible for more than two months.
The statement concludes with an urgent call for an immediate and lasting ceasefire, the release of hostages, and unhindered humanitarian access throughout the Gaza Strip. UNICEF insists on the need to open all crossing points to allow the delivery of relief and the movement of humanitarian workers.
Statement from Edouard Beigbeder, UNICEF Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa, on continuing tragic child deaths in Gaza
Amman, December 26, 2024 – “At the end of the year, the deadly threats weighing on the children of Gaza seem far from fading. Over the past three days, at least eleven children have reportedly lost their lives in attacks. At the same time, children are also succumbing to the cold and the lack of suitable shelter, an alarming and unacceptable situation.
According to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, four newborns and infants have died of hypothermia in recent days. These preventable tragedies illustrate the desperate and precarious conditions faced by families and children in the Gaza Strip. With temperatures expected to drop in the coming days, the risk of further tragic losses remains alarming, highlighting the urgency of action to protect children exposed to these inhumane conditions.
The year 2024 has been marked by unimaginable hardships for families in Gaza. In addition to the constant threat of attacks, many families survive without adequate shelter, sufficient food and access to health care. The cold further exacerbates this critical situation: frostbite and hypothermia constitute a major danger for young children forced to live in tents or makeshift shelters poorly adapted to winter temperatures. For newborns, infants and medically fragile children, the risks are particularly increased.
Vital humanitarian access severely hampered
UNICEF teams on the ground continue their tireless efforts to help children, distributing winter clothes, blankets and emergency supplies. However, the capacity of humanitarian agencies to deliver much-needed aid remains seriously insufficient. In November, only 65 aid trucks, on average, were able to enter Gaza daily, a dramatically low figure given the urgent needs of children, women and other civilians. Furthermore, the northernmost part of Gaza has been under a virtual siege for more than two months, further worsening the humanitarian crisis.
Safe and unhindered humanitarian access to the entire Gaza Strip, including the most affected areas such as the north, is imperative to meet the needs of affected populations. All crossing points must be open to allow the delivery of fuel and materials necessary for the restoration of critical infrastructure as well as commercial supplies. Aid and relief workers must also be able to move freely and safely across Gaza in order to reach communities in desperate need.
As we enter a new year, every child deserves a future filled with hope and freedom from fear. This requires, as a priority, an immediate and lasting ceasefire in Gaza, the release of all hostages, as well as a renewed commitment to work together to meet the urgent needs of children and their families. »
