Gaza:The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has issued a warning about the severe humanitarian impact of the Israeli aggression on children in Gaza. Approximately 800,000 children are currently displaced, and around 60,000 have lost one or both parents since the conflict began in October 2023.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, UNICEF reported that displaced children are living in makeshift shelters, including tents and damaged buildings, under increasingly difficult conditions as winter approaches. The organization stressed the urgent need to address the suffering of these children and provide necessary assistance. During a press conference in Geneva, UNICEF spokesperson Ricardo Pires highlighted the pervasive effects of the conflict on the daily lives of Gaza’s children, impacting their shelter, nutrition, education, safety, and family presence.

Pires noted that although there has been some improvement in nutrition since a ceasefire agreement last year, the risk of malnutrition still looms, necessitating a continuous influx of humanitarian aid and commercial goods. He also cited reports of over 340 children killed and many more injured by various forms of attack since the ceasefire.

The approaching winter poses additional challenges, with children enduring harsh conditions, inadequate sanitation, and overcrowded temporary shelters. All six wastewater treatment plants in Gaza remain non-operational, leading to raw sewage being dumped into the sea and affecting the coastline.

Despite these challenges, more than 560,000 children have resumed education since the ceasefire, with over 200 educational centers receiving UNICEF support. UNICEF has also provided digital cash assistance to over 380,000 people, safe water to approximately 1.2 million individuals, and other critical services like waste removal and medical supply delivery. However, the organization warns that the needs in Gaza are immense, and current funding is insufficient to meet them fully.