Young lives are increasingly at risk from preventable diseases and lack of food and water
The World Health Organisation (WHO) says hospitals in Gaza and other vital medical infrastructure have been attacked nearly 600 times since war erupted in the enclave in response to the Hamas-led terror attack in southern Israel.
No fewer than 613 people have died within facilities as a result since Oct. 7, 2023, and more than 770 have been injured, according to latest data on healthcare attacks from WHO.
Condemning the continuing fighting and bombardment, WHO spokesperson, Christian Lindmeier, said the “ongoing reduction of humanitarian space plus the continuing attacks on healthcare are pushing the people of Gaza to breaking point.”
Children in the Gaza Strip face a deadly triple threat to their lives, as cases of diseases rise, nutrition plummets and the escalation in hostilities approaches its fourteenth week.
Thousands of children have already died from the violence, while living conditions for children continue to rapidly deteriorate, with increasing cases of diarrhea and rising food poverty among children, raising the risk of mounting child deaths.
WHO’s online platform covering attacks on healthcare indicated that more than 550 medical facilities and vehicles had been impacted in the almost 100 days since constant Israeli airstrikes began in Gaza.
The attacks have affected 94 healthcare sites including 26 hospitals damaged out of a total of 36 in the enclave.
The head of the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Catherine Russell, in a statement on Friday said children in Gaza had been caught in a nightmare that worsened with every passing day.
Catherine Russell noted young lives are “increasingly at risk from preventable diseases and lack of food and water. All children and civilians must be protected from violence and have access to basic services and supplies.”
Cases of diarrhoea in children under five rose from 48,000 to 71,000 in just one week starting Dec. 17, 2023, equivalent to 3,200 new cases of diarrhea per day.
She said the significant increase indicated child health in Gaza is “fast deteriorating.”
NAN