TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Executive Director of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), Catherine Russell, on Friday expressed serious concern over the worsening conditions of Palestinian children in the Gaza Strip amidst the ongoing aid blockade imposed by Israel.
"For two months, children in the Gaza Strip have faced relentless bombardments while being deprived of essential goods, services and lifesaving care," Russell said as quoted by Anadolu.
"With each passing day of the aid blockade, they face the growing risk of starvation, illness and death – nothing can justify this," she said.
Russell highlighted the significant challenges currently faced by families in Gaza, ranging from destroyed farmland, limited access to the sea, to shortages of food and clean water.
"Bakeries are closing, water production is declining, and market shelves are almost bare. Humanitarian aid has provided the only lifeline for children, and now it is close to running out," she said.
According to the UN agency, more than 75 percent of households in Gaza have reported a decline in access to clean water.
"They do not have enough water to drink, cannot wash their hands when needed, and are often forced to choose between bathing, cleaning the house, or cooking," Russell said.
UNICEF also warned about the rapid spread of disease and the increasing rates of malnutrition, especially among children under the age of five.
"Vaccines are quickly running out and diseases are spreading – especially acute watery diarrhea, which now accounts for 1 in every 4 cases of disease recorded in Gaza. Most of these cases are among children under five, for whom it is life-threatening," she explained.
"Malnutrition is also on the rise. More than 9,000 children have been admitted for treatment of acute malnutrition since the beginning of the year," Russell added.
The UNICEF chief reiterated the call for the Israeli aid blockade to be lifted and humanitarian access to be restored.
"We reiterate our call for the aid blockade to be lifted, for the entry of commercial goods into Gaza, for the release of the hostages, and for the protection of all children," she emphasized.
Since March 2, Israel has closed all crossings to Gaza, preventing the entry of vital supplies into the area, despite various reports of a looming famine.
Israeli forces resumed attacks on Gaza on March 18, breaking the ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement reached with the Palestinian resistance group, Hamas, on January 19.
Since October 2023, over 52,000 Palestinians have been reported dead as a result of Israeli attacks in the region.
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