Israel’s blockade is crippling Gaza’s healthcare, endangering children’s lives, warns Unicef

Unicef has issued a stark condemnation of Israel’s blockade, which is severely jeopardising critical healthcare services for children in Gaza, particularly newborns dependent on life-saving medical interventions.  

Rosalia Bollen, a Unicef spokesperson, sharply criticised Israel’s obstruction of humanitarian aid, stating that the prohibition on vaccines and ventilators for premature infants “will have catastrophic, real-world impacts” on children and their families.  

“Without access to these supplies, routine vaccinations will halt entirely,” she said. “Neonatal units will be unable to treat preterm babies, leading to dire consequences that will unfold imminently.”  

Speaking from Gaza, Bollen highlighted that existing medical resources have been depleted due to overwhelming demand. “The scale of need is so immense that stockpiling supplies has been impossible. These new restrictions are nothing short of devastating.”  

She characterised the ceasefire as “a lifeline” for families, emphasising that its breakdown has exacerbated fear and hopelessness. “The atmosphere here is one of profound despair. Families are terrified of what lies ahead.”