Gaza children face ‘unimaginable suffering’, says Unicef

Unicef has condemned the dire conditions faced by children in Gaza, describing them as "cold, sick and traumatised", with 96 percent of women and children unable to meet basic nutritional needs.

“Gaza must be one of the most heartbreaking places on earth for humanitarians. Every small effort to save a child’s life is undone by fierce devastation,” said Rosalia Bollen, a communication specialist for Unicef, in a recent statement.

Over the past 14 months, more than 14,500 children have reportedly been killed, with thousands more wounded. “Children have borne the brunt of this nightmare,” Bollen added.

As winter sets in, the plight of Gaza’s children has worsened. “They are cold, wet and barefoot, with many still wearing summer clothes. Without cooking gas, families are scavenging through rubble for scraps of plastic to burn,” Bollen explained.

She noted that aid delivery to Gaza has drastically diminished. In November, only 65 truckloads of aid entered the region on average, compared to 500 daily before the war. Amid the festive season, Bollen contrasted global celebrations of “togetherness” with the harsh reality for Gaza’s children: “fear, utter deprivation and unimaginable suffering”.