UNICEF Says Gaza's Children Bear Brunt of Conflict
(MENAFN) The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) has strongly condemned the devastating impact the ongoing conflict in Gaza is having on its youngest residents.
On Tuesday, the organization appealed to Israel for an urgent ceasefire, emphasizing that the scale of violence in the isolated region is "unprecedented."
"For nearly two years now, children have paid the heaviest price in this crisis," stated UNICEF spokesperson Ricardo Pires during a press briefing at the United Nations in Geneva.
He reported that "an average of one child (is) either killed or maimed every 17 minutes," labeling the statistic as both "unacceptable" and "staggering."
Marking the second year of the Israeli military campaign, Pires highlighted the severe emotional and physical suffering endured by children. Many have been left without families, forced to flee their homes repeatedly, and subjected to "horrors that no child should ever have to look at or live." The trauma, he stressed, is deep and lasting.
Although Pires acknowledged ongoing diplomatic efforts by the United States to mediate peace, he cautioned that attacks, including aerial bombardments, are persisting in both the northern and southern parts of Gaza.
These continued assaults, he noted, hinder any meaningful relief for the affected population.
On September 29, US President Donald Trump introduced a 20-point peace framework, which involves the release of all Israeli hostages in return for Palestinian detainees, a ceasefire, the demilitarization of Hamas, and the reconstruction of Gaza.
According to reports, Hamas has shown conditional agreement to the plan.
UNICEF also voiced serious concern about the ongoing obstruction of humanitarian aid.
According to Pires, vital medical equipment such as incubators and ventilators—essential for premature infants—have been blocked from entering the area.
"We're talking about children sharing oxygen masks in order to stay alive," he explained, pointing out that currently, one in five babies born in Gaza is premature—a statistic that underscores the severity of the health crisis unfolding amid the conflict.
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