The Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), Rola Dashti, has disclosed alarming statistics regarding child fatalities in Gaza.
According to Dashti, the number of children killed in Gaza over a single month has surpassed the total number of children who died in armed conflicts across 22 countries since 2020.
This revelation came during the release of a rapid assessment study by the United Nations Development Programme and ESCWA, titled “Gaza War: Anticipated Social and Economic Impacts on the State of Palestine.”
Dashti emphasized that the estimated number of children killed in Gaza, standing at around 4,300, exceeds the total child fatalities in 22 countries in any year since 2020.
Dashti underscored the urgent need for a ceasefire and the sustainable flow of humanitarian aid to alleviate suffering immediately and tangibly.
She pointed out that failing to address the root causes of the long-standing conflict, particularly the ongoing occupation, renders recovery efforts insufficient and short-lived.
Furthermore, Dashti highlighted the unprecedented level of destruction in Gaza, stating that as of November 3, estimates indicate that 35,000 housing units have been completely destroyed, and approximately 220,000 have been partially damaged.
The report underscores the dire humanitarian crisis in Gaza and calls for immediate international attention to address both the immediate needs and the underlying causes of the conflict.
The Government Media Office in Gaza reported that Israel has bombarded the strip with approximately 32,000 tons of explosives, including over 13,000 bombs. This equates to an average of 87 tons of explosives per square kilometer, as per the Arab World News Agency.
The bombardment has resulted in significant damage to the residential areas of Gaza. Over 50% of the housing units have been affected, with a total destruction of 40,000 homes.
