The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) expressed grave concerns today about the plight of newly displaced children in Southern Gaza, who are receiving significantly less water than required for survival.
The organization predicts a rise in child mortality in the region in the coming days due to severe deprivation and illness.
In a statement published on its website, UNICEF highlighted that these children are only accessing 1.5 to 2 liters of water per day, far below the recommended survival threshold.
According to humanitarian relief standards, the minimum water requirement in emergency situations is 15 liters per day, including water for drinking, washing, and cooking. For mere survival, at least 3 liters per day is essential.
UNICEF also noted that half of the internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Rafah, South Gaza, are children. The statement emphasized, “Access to adequate amounts of clean water in Gaza is a matter of life and death.”
Since the start of the month, hundreds of thousands of IDPs, nearly half of them children, have arrived in Rafah, desperately needing food, water, medicine, and shelter.
The situation is particularly dire for children, who are more susceptible to dehydration, diarrhea, diseases, and malnutrition.
The organization also warned that the water and sanitation services in Gaza are on the brink of collapse, with a widespread outbreak of diseases looming.
“At least 50 percent of water and sanitation facilities have been damaged or destroyed,” the statement read. The lack of hygiene options, especially affecting women and girls, could lead to an increased spread of disease.
UNICEF’s alarming report sheds light on the critical situation in Gaza, underscoring the urgent need for international aid and support to avert a humanitarian catastrophe.
