Acute water shortages in war-torn Gaza pose deadly risks for children, UNICEF warns
The United Nations children’s agency has warned that acute water shortages in the war-torn Gaza, triggered by Israel’s ongoing war, pose deadly risks for children in the Palestinian territory with large-scale disease outbreaks looming.
The UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) said on Tuesday that recently displaced children in the southern Gaza Strip were accessing only 1.5 to two liters of water each day, which is well below the recommended requirements just for survival.
“The impact of this on children is particularly dramatic because children are also more susceptible to dehydration, diarrhea, disease and malnutrition, all of which can compound to present a threat to their survival,” the UN agency said.
Israel waged the war on Gaza on October 7 after the Palestinian Hamas resistance group carried out the surprise Operation Al-Aqsa Storm against the occupying entity in response to the Israeli regime’s atrocities against Palestinians.
The regime unleashed its war with the stated goal of releasing all of its captives and eliminating Hamas. None of the goals however have been achieved.
Since the start of the US-backed offensive, the Israeli regime has killed at least 19,667 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and injured 52,586 others. Thousands more are also missing and presumed dead under the rubble.
“Access to sufficient amounts of clean water is a matter of life and death, and children in Gaza have barely a drop to drink. Children and their families have to use water from unsafe sources that are highly salinated or polluted. Without safe water, many more children will die from deprivation and disease in the coming days,” said UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell.
The Israeli regime, since the onset of the war, has imposed a tight blockade against the densely-populated Gaza Strip, implementing harsh measures to cut electricity, food, water and fuel from entering the territory.
According to the UN agency, three liters are required daily for survival, and the amount rises to 15 liters of water required for washing and cooking is also counted.
“Concerns of waterborne diseases such as cholera and chronic diarrhea are particularly heightened given the lack of safe water, especially following this week’s rains and flooding,” UNICEF further said.
Figures by the World Health Organization (WHO) show that from November 29 to December 10, cases of diarrhea in Gazan children under five jumped 66 percent to 59,895, and increased by 55 percent for the rest of the population.
Israeli strikes kill 88 Palestinians in northern Gaza
ICC should issue more arrest warrants for Israeli authorities over Gaza genocide: UN expert
Israel using AI weapons co-produced by India in Gaza genocide: Report
Israeli strikes kill 88 Palestinians in northern Gaza
American voters plainly rejected complicity in Gaza genocide: Iran FM spox
ICC should issue more arrest warrants for Israeli authorities over Gaza genocide: UN expert
Israel using AI weapons co-produced by India in Gaza genocide: Report
Israel issues new evacuation orders, shortly launches strikes on southern Lebanon
VIDEO | Press TV's news headlines
From Iraq to Gaza: The great disconnect between British people and rulers
Syria condemns Israel's killing of 36 in 'horrific' strike on Palmyra
PressTV NEWSLETTER
now
This makes it easy to access the Press TV website
