The prolonged deprivation of essential life-sustaining goods has deepened the crisis. Over 100 people were killed and hundreds injured along food convoy routes and near Israeli-militarized distribution hubs in the past two days alone.
With one in three people currently going without food for days, OCHA emphasized that no one should have to risk their life for food.
Ted Chaiban, Deputy Director of UNICEF, noted the visible suffering and hunger on the faces of families and children during his visit to Gaza, the West Bank, and Israel.
Gaza faces a grave risk of famine, Chaiban reported, with indicators exceeding the famine threshold. The crisis requires unrestricted aid and commercial supplies to enter Gaza to meet the needs of the people.
OCHA reported that, despite Israel’s announcement to allow more aid and safe passage for UN convoys, the aid reaching Gaza is still insufficient, and convoys face dangers and obstacles.
OCHA stressed that civilians must always be protected, and large-scale community aid delivery should be facilitated, not hindered.
Chaiban highlighted that the children suffering in Gaza are not victims of a natural disaster; they are being starved, bombed, and displaced. More than 18,000 children have been killed since the war began.
In Gaza, Chaiban met families of children killed and injured by an Israeli airstrike at a UNICEF-supported nutrition clinic.
In discussions with Israeli authorities, UNICEF urged a review of military engagement rules to protect civilians and children and called for increased humanitarian aid and commercial traffic to stabilize the situation.
Chaiban stated that children should not be killed while waiting in line at a nutrition center or collecting water, and people should not be desperate enough to rush a convoy. He described the situation as inhumane and hoped for a sustained ceasefire and political progress.
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