As the crisis in Gaza intensifies, UNICEF, in collaboration with its partners, is racing against time to provide crucial humanitarian aid to the one million children trapped in the midst of escalating hostilities.
With a pressing need for an immediate cessation of all hostilities, UNICEF is striving to deliver emergency assistance to address the unfolding catastrophe. Approximately 1.1 million people, nearly half of whom are children, in northern Gaza have been urgently cautioned to evacuate in the face of an impending large-scale military assault. However, the gravity of the situation lies in the stark reality that there is no safe refuge for these vulnerable individuals.
UNICEF underscores the paramount importance of prioritizing the protection of children in this dire situation. Children should never be the targets of violence nor be exposed to the risk of harm or coerced into participating in violence.
The current developments exacerbate an already critical crisis in the Gaza Strip, where families have endured severe electricity shortages, receiving less than five hours of power daily for almost a year. The situation is particularly grim for the youth, who have faced three significant armed conflicts in the last decade, resulting in an unemployment rate exceeding 60 percent. Additionally, only 10 percent of Gaza’s families have regular access to clean drinking water, and a quarter of a million children urgently require psychosocial support due to past trauma. More than half of the children in the region depend on various forms of assistance for their daily survival.
In a significant move, UNICEF successfully delivered crucial health supplies to Gaza. The organization is also providing guidance to parents on accessing psychosocial support and trauma counseling for their children. UNICEF remains committed to supporting health, water, sanitation, hygiene, education, and protection services in the region.
