6/16/2024–|Last updated: 6/16/202405:06 PM (Mecca time)
United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) spokesman James Elder said that the killing and destruction practiced by the Israeli army in the Gaza Strip will not bring peace to children or the region, and stressed that the impact that the war has on young people confirms the widespread belief that the war in Gaza “is a war on children.” .
Elder – who is currently in Gaza – expressed his deep concern about the disappearance of hope among the residents of the Strip, especially among young people, and urged the world to take action to end this human tragedy. He told painful stories about children who lost their families and homes, and are suffering from malnutrition and psychological trauma, stressing the need for an immediate ceasefire to save the lives of children and provide them with health care and education.
The UN official said in an interview published on the UN website, “There is nothing normal in the constant fear that children here experience, and there is nothing normal in the last three nights of continuous bombing and drones that deprive children of sleep. And of course, there is nothing normal regarding the horrific wounds.” For the children I saw just a few hours ago in Al-Aqsa Hospital.”
Elder pointed to a small number of hospitals that are still able to provide their services, out of the 36 hospitals that were operating in Gaza before the beginning of the Israeli aggression on Gaza, and described the scenes he observed during his recent visit to Al-Aqsa Hospital, and said, “It was already crowded, because it was already in a state of emergency.” War, and there were dozens of people with terrible injuries lying on the floors, and on the mattresses there were children with terrible injuries resulting from explosions and burns.”
He added, “One doctor told me that no hospital in the world can withstand the pressure we are experiencing now. There are Palestinian doctors in Gaza who have a tremendous spirit.”
He stressed that trying to deliver aid to the Gaza Strip is fraught with risks, and said, “During this war that has been going on for 8 months, the largest number of my colleagues in the United Nations were killed, more than any other conflict in the history of the United Nations, so it is not that easy. We need two vehicles.” Two armored vehicles every time we move.”
Elder said the world should be horrified by the long-term consequences of the destruction of educational institutions in Gaza. “We know that the longer the war goes on, the more psychological harm it inflicts on children. UNICEF knows this from Yemen or Afghanistan. We are heading into the unknown when it comes to mental health,” Elder said. For children”.
Elder concluded his speech by saying that during his visit to Gaza, he witnessed the fading of hope among the residents of the Strip with the continuation of the Israeli aggression despite all international appeals and resolutions. He added, “In a frightening way, many young people said to me words to the effect that they hope that a missile will hit their tent so that they will die and this tragedy will end. We cannot.” To allow the world to turn its back. We cannot allow this to be normalized. There is nothing normal about this malnutrition crisis. There is nothing normal about the incessant bombing or the atrocities I see in hospitals. There is certainly nothing normal about the lives of children and their families. In a constant state of fear.”