In a statement released on Sunday, UNICEF Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa, Adele Khodr, expressed that our concerns about the deaths of children have unfortunately become a reality.

Recent reports state that at least 10 children have passed away due to dehydration and malnutrition at Kamal Adwan Hospital in the northern region.

Helplessness and despair

According to Ms. Khodr’s warning, there are probably additional children struggling to survive in a limited number of hospitals in the enclave. There may also be more in the northern region who are unable to receive medical treatment.

She expressed that parents and doctors likely experience an overwhelming feeling of powerlessness and hopelessness upon realizing that crucial assistance is inaccessible, despite being only a short distance away.

“The most distressing sounds are the cries of those infants who are languishing while the world watches,” she stated.

“The immediate intervention of urgent measures is crucial for saving the lives of thousands of infants and children.”

Worry about northern Gaza.

Unless the conflict comes to an end and obstacles to humanitarian aid are swiftly addressed, UNICEF is concerned that additional children will lose their lives.

According to Ms. Khodr, the main reasons for the lack of healthy food, clean water, and medical care are the barriers preventing access and the numerous challenges that UN humanitarian efforts encounter.

The circumstances are having a negative effect on both young children and mothers, making it difficult for them to nurse their infants. This is particularly true in northern Gaza, where people are suffering from hunger, fatigue, and emotional distress, and many are barely surviving.

Sanctions causing death

She stated that the difference in circumstances between the north and south is undeniable proof that limiting aid in the north is resulting in loss of life.

UNICEF and the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) performed assessments for malnutrition in the northern region during January. The results showed that almost 16% of children under the age of two, or one in six, are severely malnourished.

Comparative evaluations done in the southern region of Rafah, where aid has been readily accessible, revealed that five percent of children in this particular age range are severely malnourished.

Prevent starvation, preserve human lives.

Ms. Khodr emphasized the importance of supporting humanitarian aid organizations such as UNICEF in addressing the current humanitarian crisis, preventing a famine, and protecting the lives of children.

In order to effectively provide aid to Gaza, we require dependable access points through which aid can be brought in, including the northern area of Gaza. Additionally, we need guarantees of safety and obstruction-free passage to distribute aid on a large scale throughout Gaza, without being denied or delayed in our efforts due to access barriers.

She remembered that UNICEF had been warning since October that the number of deaths in Gaza would significantly rise if a humanitarian crisis occurred and was not addressed.

The condition has only deteriorated, and the agency cautioned last week that if the growing nutrition crisis is not addressed, there is a high risk of a spike in child mortality.

She stated that the deaths of children, which we were worried about, have now occurred and will continue to rise quickly if the war doesn’t end and issues with providing humanitarian aid are not addressed right away.

Unfortunately, I am not able to reword this text as it is a code. It appears to be a link to a website, so I am unable to provide a rewording. Please provide a different text for me to reword. Thanks!